A complete timeline of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's epic romance and marriage
Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on September 8, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch in world history.
Prince Philip, who she met in 1934, was by her side until his death in 2021.
1934: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip met when they were children, at a wedding.
The pair met for the first time when Princess Elizabeth was 8 years old and Philip was 13.
Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families and is a distant cousin of Elizabeth's. They both descend from the Victoria royal line.
1939: It's been said that Princess Elizabeth truly fell in love with Prince Philip when they met again a few years later.
When Elizabeth was 13, the royal family made a visit to the Royal Naval College, where Philip was a cadet in training, the BBC reported. They met again and shortly began exchanging letters back and forth.
In the press, Philip was described favorably, as "a blond Greek Apollo," "a Viking," and "handsome as any film star," Town & Country reported.
It was announced that the two were engaged in 1947, shortly following Elizabeth's 21st birthday.
1947: The wedding ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey.
The wedding took place after World War II, which was reflected in the grandeur of the ceremony and celebrations.
The British government awarded Princess Elizabeth an extra 200 clothing coupons for her to purchase her wedding gown, and 2,500 guests attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Town & Country reported.
For the next few years, the couple lived in Malta, where Prince Philip was stationed with the Royal Navy.
There, in 1949, they had their first son, Prince Charles, according to The Royal Family's website.
1950: The pair welcomed their first and only daughter, Princess Anne.
At the time of Princess Anne's birth, Princess Elizabeth was 24 years old and Prince Philip was 29.
1953: Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth, directly following her father's death.
She was 25 years old at the time. At her coronation, Prince Philip offered her his undying loyalty, kneeling before her and pledging to be her "liegeman," or faithful servant, the Washington Post reported.
1960: Their third child, Prince Andrew, was born.
You can see him in the photo above nestled in Prince Philip's lap.
1961: The queen and her husband visited and hosted countless world leaders, including President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
During most royal engagements and tours, Prince Philip acted as the young Queen's constant companion and support system.
1964: The couple welcomed their final child, Prince Edward, and broke with royal tradition.
It was the first birth that Prince Phillip had attended by his wife's side, and the first royal birth in modern history attended by the father of the child.
"The Duke of Edinburgh was actually holding his wife's hand as their youngest was born," royal biographer Ingrid Seward wrote in "My Husband and I: The Inside Story Of 70 Years Of Royal Marriage."
"The Queen, by then aged 37, had asked him to be there; she'd been keenly reading women's magazines that stressed the importance of involving fathers in childbirth and had become fascinated by the idea," she wrote. "Thus Philip became the first royal father in modern history to witness the arrival of one of his children."
1972: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
"If I am asked what I think about family life after 25 years of marriage, I can answer with equal simplicity and conviction, I am for it," Queen Elizabeth said at their anniversary celebration, Town & Country reported.
1977: The Queen's reign reached its 25th milestone.
Above, the royal couple attended a service during celebrations for the Queen's silver jubilee.
1980s: And as the years went by, they continued to execute royal duties side by side.
Here, the Queen was addressing the British Parliament in 1986, with Philip seated beside her.
1997: The pair has faced plenty of dark days, too, like the untimely death of their former daughter-in-law, Princess Diana.
The pair were photographed visiting a makeshift memorial for the beloved "people's princess" in 1997, shortly after her death.
Prince Philip also walked alongside his grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Charles Spencer (Diana's brother) and his son Prince Charles, as they followed the procession of Princess Diana's coffin.
Months later, as the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Queen Elizabeth described the Duke of Edinburgh as her "strength and stay all these years," Time reported.
"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," she continued.
2002: Just a few years later, Queen Elizabeth lost her mother and only sister within the span of just two months.
Through yet another heartbreak, Prince Philip was by her side.
2002: But later that year, the whole kingdom celebrated the Queen's Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years on the throne.
Prince Philip appeared next to Queen Elizabeth to wave to well-wishers.
And even after all this time and travel together, the Queen and her husband still share sweet moments in public.
During an official state visit to Malta, where the pair lived during the early years of their marriage, Prince Philip held up an umbrella for his wife.
2007: They attended a service to commemorate their 60th wedding anniversary to much fanfare.
By then, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had reached another important milestone – they were the longest-married couple in the history of the royal family.
2011: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended the wedding of their grandson, Prince William.
They smiled at each other during the marriage of their grandson, Prince William, to his wife Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, on April 29 that year.
2015: Even in their old age, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were publicly seen being sweet to each other.
They cozied up under the same blanket while watching the Highland Games in Scotland.
2016: They made memories with their ever-expanding family, including adorable great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, two of which were named after Prince Philip.
2017: The couple celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary.
"I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren't expected to be around that long," Queen Elizabeth said in her annual Christmas address.
2017: Prince Philip stepped down from his royal duties, at the age of 96.
The New York Times reported in 2017 that since Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne in 1952, Philip had taken part in 22,219 solo engagements, given 5,496 speeches, and written 14 books.
"Even Prince Philip has decided it's time to slow down a little — having, as he economically put it, 'done his bit'," the Queen said in a statement. "But I know his support and unique sense of humor will remain as strong as ever."
2019: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's fourth grandchild, Archie, is born.
The Queen and Prince Philip met Archie alongside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 8, 2019, two days after he was born.
2020: They marked their 73rd wedding anniversary, which would inevitably be their final celebration.
"Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on their 73rd Wedding Anniversary," their official Instagram account wrote.
February 2021: Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London in what the palace described as a "precautionary measure."
On February 23, a representative for the Duke said in a statement that he was being treated for an infection and was "comfortable and responding to treatment."
Prince Philip was later transferred to St Bartholomew's Hospital, a specialist cardiovascular hospital in London, on March 1.
The palace said Philip underwent a "successful procedure" for a preexisting heart condition on March 3, and he returned to Windsor Castle on March 16.
February 2021: Prince Harry said in an interview with James Corden that he and Meghan had video-chatted with the Queen and his grandfather "a few times."
Following the couple's exit from the royal family and subsequent move to the United States, there's been undeniable tension between the family members.
However, that doesn't seem to have affected Prince Harry or Meghan Markle's relationship with the Queen and Prince Philip.
Prince Harry said in his interview segment with James Corden on "The Late Late Show" on February 25 that he and Meghan had video chatted with the Queen and his grandfather "a few times" and that he'd seen "Archie running around."
He also jokingly noted that Prince Philip had a habit of slamming his laptop shut to end calls, rather than officially hanging up.
March 2021: Things also appeared to be relatively friendly between the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle prior to their Oprah Winfrey interview.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not reveal much in their bombshell Oprah interview in March 2021 about their relationship with Prince Philip, but they did speak about their positive rapport with the Queen.
"I've spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years," Harry said, while Markle said the Queen "has always been wonderful to me."
Following the interview, the palace released a statement that the Queen would be addressing issues brought up during the interview, especially allegations of racism against a senior member of the royal family, in private.
April 9, 2021: Prince Philip died at the age of 99.
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the palace said in a statement obtained by Insider at the time. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle."
Prince Philip was the longest-serving British consort in history.
September 8, 2022: Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle.
Her eldest son, King Charles III, immediately ascended to the throne following her death.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world," Charles said in a statement at the time. "During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."
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