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Prince PhilipQueen Elizabeth II

The Queen and Prince Philip to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in private

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen and Prince Philip will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary behind closed doors in private.

According to Sky News, the 91-year old Monarch and her 96-year-old husband will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary privately with their family.

The Queen will be treated to a rare day away from work, with no visits or public engagements taking place on November 20 – the date of their anniversary.

The Queen first met her future husband Prince Philip when she was just 13 years old at the wedding of his cousin, Princess Marina of Greece. It was love at first sight for the young princess. She kept in touch with the 18-year-old naval midshipman, corresponding with him during her teenage years.

In 1946, King George VI agreed to the marriage under the condition that the then Princess Elizabeth wait until after the Royal family’s State visit to Africa when she turned 21.

King George VI gave the couple permission to wed in April 1947. Philip (then known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten) proposed to Elizabeth during a stroll around the gardens of Balmoral. He gave Elizabeth a platinum engagement ring with a large square diamond at its centre and smaller diamonds on each side.

Philip still a Greek citizen, renounced his Greek citizenship and titles he held (he was a Prince of Greece and Denmark by birth). He took on the surname Mountbatten. The news of the Royal engagement leaked to the press before the couple could make their official announcement on 9 July 1947.

More than 2,000 guests attended the Royal Wedding on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. As the first Royal event since World War II ended, the wedding was a countrywide celebration.

The Royal couple’s honeymoon took place in Hampshire located at the Broadlands home which was owned by Lord Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle. They also spent time at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate.

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