Marriage and family

The Duke of Edinburgh was a loving husband and a devoted father and grandfather. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's long and happy marriage has seen them support each other through many years of Royal duties and raising a family together.

The engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced in July 1947 and the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. 

Shortly before the wedding, the bridegroom was given the title of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich with the style of His Royal Highness and appointed a Knight of the Garter by King George VI. 

The Queen and Prince Philip had two children before Her Majesty succeeded to the throne, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and two further children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. 

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness had eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

During a speech at the lunch to mark their Golden Wedding at London's Guildhall in 1997 Her Majesty said of His Royal Highness:

He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments. 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

In 2017 The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh became the first couple in the Royal Family to celebrate their Platinum Wedding anniversary.

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