Royal Family: Celebrating 66 Years of Marriage

Today Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary!

The couple met when the then Princess Elizabeth was only 13 years old. It was love at first sight for the young princess and throughout her teen years, the pair continuously exchanged letters. In 1946, Prince Philip asked King George VI for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The King granted his request provided any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth turned 21 the following April.

On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Over 2,000 guests attended the royal wedding and the ceremony was recorded and broadcast by BBC radio to more than 200 million people around the world. As the first Royal event since the end of World War II, the wedding proved to be a countrywide celebration. The joyous ceremony helped lift the spirits of the people of Britain, who were enduring tough economic times after the war.

Congratulations to the couple on their lasting marriage!

See the royal family tree on Geni:

 
What’s the longest marriage in your family? Let us know in the comments below!