Meghan Markle, Prince Harry join other British royals in wishing Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their 72th wedding anniversary
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on November 20 and all her grandchildren as well as their respective partners made sure to wish the couple on the special occasion. The social media accounts of Kensington Palace (where Prince William and Kate Middleton reside), The Sussex Royal (the official account of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) and the Royal Family tweeted and Instagrammed black and white throwback photos of the royal couple along with personalized messages wishing them on their anniversary.
"Wishing Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh a very happy 72nd Wedding Anniversary!" tweeted the official Twitter page of Kensington Palace.
"Happy anniversary to Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh! On this day, seventy-two years ago, they were married at Westminster Abbey. Many congratulations!" the Sussex Royal's official Instagram page posted. The Royal Family tweeted: "Happy 72nd Wedding Anniversary to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, who were married on this day in Westminster Abbey. #HappyAnniversary"
Princess Elizabeth and Philip met for the first time in 1934 at the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark and Prince George, the Duke of Kent. Love blossomed between the pair five years later, after a meeting at Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited with their two daughters. Although from their history it would appear as if it was not love at first sight for the two, years later royal family's biographer, Sir John Wheeler-Bennett, recalled, "This was the man with whom Princess Elizabeth had been in love from their first meeting."
Their engagement was announced on July 9, 1947, and the wedding took place just four months later on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. Five years into their marriage, Elizabeth became the Queen of England. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary by throwing a black-tie party for 100 friends and family at Windsor Castle in 2017.
Although 2019 has been a pretty special year for the couple, what with them becoming great grand-parents for the eighth time with their grandchild Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle welcoming baby Archie in May, the year has also brought with it its own share of controversies and heartbreaks.
Only last week, the Royal Family was thrust into the spotlight after Prince Andrew decided to do a controversial BBC interview in which he addressed his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. It was perhaps for times like this that Prince Philip was previously quoted as saying: "It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult. You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance."