British Prime Minister Theresa May was one of many to jump on social media to congratulate the royal couple. “They have devoted their lives to the service of the UK and the Commonwealth — my best wishes to them both on this special occasion,” she tweeted.
Elizabeth was a 21-year-old princess when she married Lt. Philip Mountbatten, a 26-year-old Royal Navy officer, in an elaborate ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. At the time, Britain was still reeling from the end of World War II.
Then-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously described the occasion as “a flash of color on the hard road we travel.”
The queen, 91, is the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary. On their 50th wedding anniversary, the queen described Prince Philip as “someone who doesn't take easily to compliments, but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.”
Dickie Arbiter, the queen’s former press secretary, said that one of the secrets to their long marriage is that the queen and duke make each other laugh and enjoy each other’s company. “They have love, humor, togetherness, compassion, compatibility and conversation. They are never short of anything to say to each other,” he said.
The duke, who is famous for his off-the-cuff clangers, once joked that the secret to a long marriage was to “spend plenty of time apart and have different interests.”
The queen is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, having surpassed the record set by her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria. Prince Philip, 96, is Britain’s longest-serving consort. He recently retired from public life.
On Monday afternoon, bells rang out from Westminster Abbey, the church where the couple were married. The tolling began at 1 p.m. and were expected to last 3 hours and 20 minutes.In these new photographs, The Queen and The Duke were pictured in front of a platinum-textured back drop.— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 19, 2017
The marriage of the then Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten took place at Westminster Abbey on 20th November 1947. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/Orf37QKqwC
But compared to other royal milestones — like the queen’s many 90th birthday celebrations or her Diamond Jubilee — this one was relatively quiet (except for those within earshot of the bells). Royal watchers said that the queen didn't want her subjects to make a fuss. The royal couple's close friends and family were expected to gather for a private celebration at Windsor Castle on Monday evening.
The portraits of Her Majesty and The Duke were taken by British photographer Matt Holyoak of Camera Press, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle earlier this month. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/YFUyp8azJJ— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 19, 2017
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