From a secret engagement to a seven decade union: The landmark moments in the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's marriage

November 20 2017 marks the 70th wedding anniversary of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The pair first met at the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (Prince Philip’s cousin) and Prince George, Duke of Kent (uncle to Elizabeth II) at Westminster Abbey in 1934.

They met again in 1937, and for a third time at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth when the Queen was just 13. It was at this meeting when Elizabeth reported fell for Philip and, soon after, the two stated writing to each other.

As early as 1941, politician and diarist Henry “Chips” Channon wrote of Philip as Britain’s future Consort – the partner of the Monarch.

Here are the landmarks moments which defined their relationship:

After getting engaged in 1946, the couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on November 20th, 1947.

They initially had to keep their engagement a secret, as King George VI did not want the arrangement announced before Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday.

Many luminaries attended, including King George VI, and royals from more than five other countries.

The new couple went on two honeymoons following their wedding.

The first was to Broadlands, home of Earl Mountbatten – Prince Philip’s uncle.

The second was to Birkhall, the future Queen Elizabeth’s childhood home.
Charles and AnneThe future Queen Elizabeth II with a newly-born Prince Charles, surrounded by Prince Philip, King George VI, and the Queen Mother

When : 1948-1950

Where : London

Events : Birth of Prince Charles and Princess Anne

The couple had their first child, Charles, on November 14th 1948.

He was the last royal to be born with the Home Secretary in attendance.

Charles would become heir to the throne at the age of 3, and to this day remains the longest-waiting heir to the throne in British history.

In 1950, the couple had their second child, Princess Anne.
Becoming Queen Elizabeth IIThe Queen and Prince Philip following her coronation on 2nd June, 1953

When : 2nd June 1953

Where : Westminster Abbey

Events : Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

When King George VI died on February 6th 1952 at the young age of 56, Elizabeth returned home from a tour of Kenya to succeed him.

Her coronation took place over a year later on 2nd June 1953.

The first British coronation shown on television, over 20 million people crowded around TV sets to watch.

Prince Philip swore loyalty to his wife, and the pair waved to the crowds from Buckingham Palace,

The former Princess Elizabeth was now Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Andrew and the First DocumentaryThe Queen and Prince Philip with their children Charles, Anne, and a young Prince Andrew

When : 1960-1969

Where : Various

Events : Birth of Prince Andrew, Birth of Prince Edward, Royal Family Documentary

In 1960, the Royal Couple had their third child, Andrew.

He was the first royal to be born to a sitting Monarch since 1857.

The Queen gave birth to her fourth and final child, Edward, in 1964.

Five years later, there was an unprecedented first for the royals, as they took part in a documentary called Royal Family .

Commissioned by the Queen to celebrate Prince Charles becoming invested, the documentary was the first time the British people saw the Royal Family from behind the scenes.

It is estimated up to two-thirds of the British population watched the documentary.

However, it subsequently disappeared, with reports the Royals had wanted it removed because it made them look too ordinary.

Select clips from it reappeared in 2011, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coverage and Prince Philip’s 90th birthday celebrations.
A strong relationship in difficult timesThe Queen and Prince Philip at the funeral of Earl Mountbatten on 5th September, 1979

When : 1970-1979

Where : Various

Events : Silver Jubilee, Death of Earl Mountbatten

The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977, following 25 years of her rule.

By that time, she and Prince Philip had been married for 30 years.

However, the Royal Couple were tried and tested through several difficult periods.

The assassination of Earl Mountbatten in 1979 at the hands of the IRA was a major blow.

Mountbatten had been close to Prince Charles, and his death traumatised the young prince.
Thatcher and the QueenThe Queen and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are often portrayed as having had a tempestuous relationship

When : 1979-1990

Where : Various

When Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 General Election, Britain had a female monarch and Prime Minister for the first time in history.

Yet the two did not always get on.

Their personalities vastly differed, with the drier wit of the Queen clashing with the more serious, business-like approach of her Prime Minister.

That said, their relationship was not entirely hostile.

It is believed that upon her resignation from office, Lady Thatcher was invited by the Queen to attend a horse-racing event, with the monarch believing her former Prime Minister had been mistreated.
The Death of Princess DianaPrincess Diana’s funeral following her death in a car accident in Monaco in 1997

When : August 31st – September 6th 1997

Where : London

Events : Death and Funeral of Princess Diana

Perhaps the biggest challenge the Queen and Prince Philip faced throughout their 70 years of marriage was the death of Princess Diana.

The People’s Princess was killed in a car accident in Paris on August 31st 1997.

At first, the Queen and the Royal Family were criticised for not showing enough emotion following Diana’s death.

However, the Royal Couple later met mourners outside Buckingham Palace, assuaging these concerns.
The new milleniumThe Queen and Prince Philip welcome the new millennium along with their family, and leading members of the government

When : 2000

Where : Worldwide

Events : New Millennium

The Queen and Prince Philip welcomed in the 21st century with over half a century of marriage behind them.

They celebrated at the Millennium Dome (now known as the O2 Arena) with Prime Minister Tony Blair and thousands of others.

Elizabeth II had been on the throne for almost 50 years.
The 2000sQueen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip during celebrations for her Golden Jubilee in 2002

When : 2002-2009

Where : Various

Events : Deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, Golden Jubilee, 60th Anniversary

The new millennium did not start easily for Queen Elizabeth.

Her sister Princess Margaret died in February 2002, and her mother passed a month later.

Yet the Queen was as sure as ever when she celebrated her Golden Jubilee that same year.

With Prince Philip by her side, she was active as the country commemorated her 50 years on the throne.

Five years later in 2007, the couple celebrated their own 60th wedding anniversary.

They visited Malta, where they had lived for a short period after getting married, and Broadlands, where they had gone on their honeymoon.
The 2010sThe Queen and Prince Philip during the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012

When : 2011-2017

Where : Various

Events : Royal Wedding, Diamond Jubilee, Queen turns 90, Prince Philip’s Health Scare

Entering the eighth decade of their marriage, the Queen and Prince Philip remained as active as ever.

They celebrated the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011, the 25th royal wedding since their own.

One year later, the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, commemorating 60 years on the throne.

A third milestone came in 2016, when the Queen celebrated her 90th birthday.

However, the current decade has not been without challenges to the Royal Couple.

Prince Philip suffered an infection which kept him in hospital in June, and announced in May that he was withdrawing from official royal duties.

He finally retired from public duties on 2nd August.
The Queen and Prince Philip: 70 years onThe Queen and Prince Philip in 2017, months before their 70th wedding anniversary

It is only a matter of weeks until the Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their 70th anniversary, the first Royal Couple to do so in British history.

The celebration will be a low-key affair, with the couple opting for a private dinner with family and friends rather than a more public occasion.

While Prince Philip retired from royal duties in August, the Queen remains as active as ever.