The heartbreaking death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 has been announced by Buckingham Palace.
England now begins an extended period of mourning, reflecting on the longest-serving monarch’s extraordinary life and service, as well as one of the most enduring romances of history.
Like other great love stories, Her Majesty and Prince Philip’s had a great start.
It started in July 1939 when Princess Elizabeth joined her parents and sister on a visit to Dartmouth’s Britannia Royal Naval College.
Despite her tender years, the 13-year-old princess fell head-over-heels in love with a handsome young naval officer.
“She never looked at anyone else. She was smitten from the start,” a friend said.
The 18-year-old naval cadet, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, also had strong feelings.
“Lilibet is the only ‘thing’ in this world which is absolutely real to me,” he wrote to his mother-in-law after they got married in 1947.
In another letter, written in 1946, the Duke of Edinburgh told the Princess how falling in love with her had made his personal problems and also those of the world ‘seem small and petty.’
Their unwavering love developed a great foundation of marriage that lasted 73 years. In April 2021, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at the age of 99.
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” the Queen turned to words first spoken at their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
After Prince Philip’s death, insiders said that the Queen was ‘comforted’ by her faith that they would soon ‘be reunited.’
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