Husband of Queen Elizabeth 2 of Great Britain. You didn’t know this: strange facts about Queen Elizabeth’s marriage
Elizabeth fell in love with Philip at first sight: they met when she was 13 years old and he was 18. The well-built blond, cadet at the Royal Naval College, immediately fell in love with Philip. A correspondence began between her and Philip.
2. Elizabeth's parents were against her marriage to Philip.
Philip comes from royal family: At birth he bore the title of Prince of Greece and Denmark. However, Philip's family was expelled from Greece. Leaving his native country, his relatives settled in Paris, and Philip was sent to London, where he studied, received the rank of midshipman and went to serve in the Second World War. navy. Although the young man wrote long and tender letters to the future Queen of England from the front, Elizabeth’s relatives were not at all delighted with their daughter’s choice. They believed that Philip was not a match for the princess - his family was ruined. The only inheritance Philip received from his father was a signet ring.
3. Philip had to renounce his title and religion
The wedding of Philip and Elizabeth, however, still took place. True, for her sake the young man had to sacrifice a lot. So, he ceased to be called a Greek prince, became a British subject and converted from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. He was ready to forever remain in history as the queen's husband.
4. Elizabeth and Philip's wedding was modest
Elizabeth and Philip got married at the end of 1947 - the war had just ended... By royal standards, the wedding was quite modest, although very beautiful. The dress for the main day in her life was made by court designer Norman Hartnell, who was inspired by Sandro Botticelli’s painting “Spring”. “I discovered a painting by Botticelli in the museum, which depicted a girl in ivory silk flowing along her body, strewn with flowers, asparagus and rosebuds. I recreated all this flora using crystal beads and pearls,” he recalled. Elizabeth's head was adorned with her mother's precious tiara, and a five-meter veil was carried by two pages. The outfit was completed with satin heeled sandals, the silver buckles of which were decorated with pearls.
5. Philip became the first to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as queen
Elizabeth and Philip were inseparable after their wedding. The girl took care of the house and was happy as a wife. Soon the couple had children - Charles and Anna. But in February 1952 the family's quiet life ended. The King of England and Elizabeth's father, George VI, died of a blood clot in the heart... Philip became the first to bend the knee and take an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth II as queen.
6. At first, Elizabeth forbade Philip from giving his children his last name.
After Elizabeth's coronation, Philip had to not only leave his naval service, but devote himself entirely to royal duties. He accompanied the queen on all her trips, helped her in state affairs... The man dreamed that his wife and children would bear his surname, but then the Windsors would officially cease to be rulers - and the Mountbattens would become rulers. Just the thought of this caused indignation among all Elizabeth's relatives. The Queen consulted with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and refused her husband's request to assign his surname to Charles and Anne. Philip was very worried and joked bitterly, calling himself the only person in a country who cannot give his own surname to his own children.
7. Philip and Elizabeth were on the verge of divorce
In the mid-50s, Elizabeth was completely absorbed in state affairs, and Philip suffered due to the fact that he had to leave his service in the navy. The relationship between the spouses became cool and, perhaps, things were even heading towards divorce - but the Duke unexpectedly found himself involved in charity work. And then Elizabeth became pregnant again - and suddenly allowed her husband to give the newborn, a boy, Andrew, his last name. The royal couple's fourth child, Edward, also took his father's surname. Thus, the couple's eldest children, Charles and Anne, bear the surname Windsor, while the younger ones, Andrew and Edward, bear the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday, she became not only the oldest monarch in the world, but also the longest-reigning head of state in British history. She comes from the Windsor dynasty and, in addition to her native island, is recognized as queen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and eight other small countries. During the reign of Elizabeth Alexandra Maria the final collapse occurred British Empire and the exit of the colonies from British rule. Despite quite impressive criticism, Elizabeth II home country the person is quite popular.
She was born on April 21, 1926 in the family of the future king, and. The girl received her name in honor of her mother, but full name Princess also consists of the names of the grandmother and great-grandmother. The queen's zodiac sign is Taurus. Elizabeth II had a sister, who was born four years after her, but died at the age of 72.
The first title in the biography of Elizabeth II appeared immediately after birth: the girl was named Princess of York. At that time, her father and uncle Edward VIII stood in front of her on the way to the throne, as did any boy who could theoretically be born to each of the candidates for the throne. The uncle initially became king, but less than a year later he lost the title to his brother.
Elizabeth II and her parents move to a luxurious castle - Buckingham Palace, where they spend their childhood and youth. Elizabeth II studied at home, but received an excellent humanities education. She's on high level I studied art, religion, law, and specifically the British Constitution. Elizabeth II is fluent French and it is believed that she learned it on her own.
For the first time, Elizabeth II addressed her future subjects at the age of 13. During World War II, she appeared on the radio and expressed support for children who were affected by the bombing. At the age of 16, the girl already independently appears in public, and a year later she becomes a state adviser and joins the women's self-defense unit. The princess learned to drive an ambulance, received training as a mechanic, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. She is the only head of state who served in real life in that war.
Board
On the day of her coming of age, Elizabeth II officially promised the British Empire to devote her life to serving people, although at that time her inheritance of the crown was still in doubt. After the death of her father George VI, on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen. It is curious that the coronation of a girl was broadcast on television for the first time in history, and many believe that this event gave a sharp impetus to the popularity of this medium mass media in Britain.
At the time of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, the ruler's possessions were much wider than they are today. The empire then included South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later abolished British rule. Interestingly, Elizabeth II visited each country almost immediately, becoming the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.
By tradition, Queen Elizabeth II has virtually no influence on the governance of the country. A woman’s task is to represent the country at international summits and maintain the authority of the British monarchy. Throughout her entire tenure on the throne, Elizabeth II maintains correct relations with all prime ministers. And although she is above the political fray and does not publicly express her own political opinions, statesmen consider it important to consult with her on many issues. She valued the queen's opinion, which she wrote about in her memoirs.
During her long reign over Great Britain, Elizabeth received both praise and harsh criticism. But both the queen's supporters and opponents emphasize the queen's humanity. The events of 1986 are an indicative fact. Elizabeth II was sailing on her yacht Britannia to one of her subject countries when she learned about the beginning civil war in Yemen. She immediately ordered to change course and take on board as many as possible ordinary people. Thanks to direct help Queen of England Elizabeth II over a thousand people were evacuated.
In 2015, "Canada's sexiest politician" visited Buckingham Palace. Then the Queen noted that the meeting with the Prime Minister was a unique occasion, because they had met last time 40 years ago: Justin’s father took him to see Elizabeth II when the boy was 3 years old. At the meeting, the Queen noted: “Nice to see you again, but under different circumstances.”. To which the politician retorted: “The last time we met, you were much taller.”.
Today, the queen’s height is 152 cm and her weight is 55 kg.
Personal life
Elizabeth II's personal life changed immediately after coming of age. The princess married a British naval officer, who after the wedding received the title Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Elizabeth 2 is a descendant of Queen Victoria and the offspring of Greek and Danish royal dynasties. They met when the future Queen Elizabeth II was eight years old, and the romantic relationship between the lovers began in 1939, when the princess visited the naval college, where young Philip was then studying.
Wedding of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband had four children: Anne, Andrew and Edward. The last two were born after their mother’s accession to the British throne. Family tree The British royal family continues to grow: children have long since acquired their own families and presented the reigning queen with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the family of Elizabeth II there was and, the first wife of Prince Charles and the mother of and. One of the strongest waves of criticism swept over Elizabeth II when she reacted with obvious delay to a car accident.
Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hobbies are breeding purebred dogs and horse riding. As she grew older, she replaced horses with cars and even today gets behind the wheel herself. By the way, driver's license the queen doesn't. Even in her old age, Elizabeth II became interested in gardening. She is considered one of the world's most traveled heads of state and has already visited over 130 countries. The personality of Elizabeth II attracts attention and motivates creative people to create works of art. There are many lifetime monuments and sculptures of Elizabeth II. In honor of the queen, bridges and buildings are built, parks and alleys are laid out, stamps and coins are issued, and a variety of roses is even named after the monarch.
Elizabeth II often becomes a character in films. The queen was portrayed on screen, along with a dozen other actresses. And once Queen Elizabeth II herself starred in a promotional video for the opening of the London 2012 Olympics. Together with the actor who portrayed her, she flies to the Olympic Stadium by helicopter and “jumps” with a parachute. For this role, the 87-year-old Queen of Great Britain was awarded the BAFTA film award for best actress.
Royals are prohibited from maintaining social media accounts. However, the royal family has a person who monitors their official " Instagram" And " Twitter", where he posts photos and recordings with permission supreme authority.
It is known that a whole team works on the Queen's wardrobe. Experts suggest that Elizabeth's favorite color is blue. It was in clothes of this shade that the woman most often appeared in public. This may be due to the fact that Elizabeth II's eye color is blue. Designers have always noted the elegance and refined taste of the monarch.
Despite her age, Elizabeth II prefers to go without makeup and usually only uses lipstick. The woman puts on her makeup herself.
The Queen has a collection of hats. Elizabeth has more than 5,000 of these hats in her arsenal. Moreover, the monarch appeared in public in each of them.
In 2016, for the Queen's 90th birthday, it was published documentary about Elizabeth II. Director John Bridcut was allowed to look into the personal video chronicle of the royal family.
Elizabeth II now
In January 2017, subjects were worried about the health of the ruler. Elizabeth II became very ill: the woman was struck down by a cold. For this reason, the Queen missed the Christmas and New Year's services.
In June, the monarch gave a speech from the throne in parliament. Elizabeth II presented the government program for the next two years.
In September, Elizabeth II said she planned to wait for someone other than “Mr. Putin” to rule Russia. According to the British monarch, he has lost touch with reality and there is nothing to talk about with him. The woman is sure that the time will come when Russians will again look at the British with aspiration.
In December, the Queen took part in a hunt at her country residence Sandringham. Sources reported that when the dog brought a wounded pheasant to the monarch’s feet, Elizabeth II was not at a loss and finished off the bird with a cane.
In November 2017, it became known that Prince William's brother, Harry, was officially engaged to the actress. The lovers were scheduled for May 19, 2018. However, Queen Elizabeth II did not give consent for a long time to the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and according to the law regulating marriages royalty, before the celebration, the monarch must give official written permission to marry. And only a week before the wedding, Buckingham Palace published its consent british queen. The public was sure that Elizabeth would not approve of Harry's union with former actress, who had previously been married.
And on May 19, 2018, the whole world watched the royal celebration. 600 guests were invited to the wedding, among whom were, with his wife and others. During the wedding, the queen did not show joyful emotions and never smiled. After the ceremony, Meghan was given the title of Duchess of Sussex.
Now the British public is waiting for Markle to announce her pregnancy and give Prince Harry an heir. The press periodically reports facts that confirm that spouses are striving to have offspring.
In February, the queen rented a plot in the center of Kyiv. The media were tormented by guesses why Elizabeth II needed land in Ukraine. It turned out that the embassies of Canada and Australia, which are members of the British Commonwealth and recognize the authority of the British crown, are located on this site.
On June 18, Elizabeth II attended the traditional ceremony for presenting the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain.
On June 19, an important public event started - the royal races at Ascot. Her Majesty attended this event.
That same month, the Queen's cousin Ivar Mountbatten announced that he planned to marry boyfriend James Coyle. Two years ago, a man caused a real stir in the family when he announced an unconventional sexual orientation. Until 2011, Ivar was married to a woman named Penelope Thomson. In this marriage, the couple had three children. Ex-wife Ivara knew about her husband's inclinations and supported him. It will be Penny who will lead Ivar to the altar. The woman immediately found common language with Mountbatten's lover. This will be the first same-sex marriage in the royal family.
The Queen is scheduled to meet with the President of the United States on July 13, 2018. The working visit of the American leader will take place at Windsor Castle. In addition to meeting with Elizabeth, the president plans to spend several hours with the British Prime Minister.
Scandals
A loud scandal occurred in the 90s associated with Prince Charles. As you know, the man married Diana Spencer, who fell in love with the royal family and the British public, but all his life the queen’s son loved Camilla Shand. However, the monarchs were against their son’s marriage to a rootless girl, so she also quickly found a gentleman. But meetings with the prince did not stop. Diana knew about her husband's infidelities. William and Harry's mother tried to save the marriage, but it didn't work out. In 1992, recordings were presented to the public telephone conversation Charles and Camilla. The words that the lovers spoke to each other made the royals’ ears “sag.”
Diana then became furious. As a result, the marriage turned into a war that ended in divorce.
After the tragic death of Princess Diana, those who blamed Prince Charles for what happened appeared. We went, and this happened not without the participation of Elizabeth II.
They also said that Prince Philip, the queen's husband, cheated on his wife many times. The woman did not comment on such statements.
In 2012, there was a scandal associated with the name of Prince William and. The future parents of George, Charlotte and Louis were vacationing in a private villa in France. The couple thought that they were alone on the beach, and calmly walked there, either in swimsuits or without any clothes at all. At this moment, the husband and wife were caught by the paparazzi lens.
In due time in the center gossip columns The queen’s sister Margaret “shone.” In her youth, the girl was not allowed to marry for love, and she began to often visit dubious establishments. It was rumored that the ruler's closest relative was addicted to cocaine. Then she married an unloved man, whom she left after 18 years. During and after marriage, the woman did not give up pleasure walks. As a result, Margaret ended her life unhappy in wheelchair.
The press wrote that Elizabeth II could help her sister and approve a bill that would allow her to marry her loved one. But this did not happen.
Once the queen was even buried. This happened live on the BBC channel. Then presenter Danny Kelly announced the death of the monarch. Later, the management of the television and radio corporation had to make an official apology to the royal family.
In 2016, there were rumors that the Queen was planning to abdicate in favor of Prince William and Kate Middleton, bypassing Prince Charles. But the rumors remained rumors.
On January 20, 1961, he ascended to the presidency of the United States. Four months later, the man and his wife met with the queen. The couple was invited to dinner. John came to visit Elizabeth II with a gift: the man presented the monarch with his photographic portrait. Historians wonder what the newly minted US president was trying to demonstrate with such a gesture. Elizabeth was surprised, but accepted the gift.
Jacqueline admitted that she was very worried before meeting the queen, but she warmly greeted the president’s wife and, so that she could calm down, showed the first lady a collection of works of art. Nine months later, Jacqueline Kennedy visited the Queen again, alone. And I was delighted with the visit. Six months later, the woman planned to host Elizabeth II, but when it turned out that the queen was pregnant, the meeting was postponed.
On April 12, 1961, a Soviet pilot-cosmonaut made his first flight into space. As a result, the young man turned into a world celebrity. Yuri Alekseevich was invited by foreign governments and organizations, including Great Britain. As a result, the queen herself wanted to talk to Gagarin, inviting the man for breakfast. Contrary to protocol, Elizabeth II sat the astronaut next to her and asked questions. Those present noted that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.
Queen Elizabeth II is the only UK resident who does not have a passport.
Interestingly, no one except the husband has the right to touch the Queen in public. And Elizabeth the Second never raises her voice or gives interviews.
Just imagine: 70 years hand in hand, she and he, Elizabeth and Philip, the queen and her devoted husband. We decided to remember how the history of one of the longest-lasting marriages in the history of the royal family developed.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip, 1 December 1958Little Elizabeth did not even think about the throne: her uncle was supposed to become king, her place in line for the throne was completely hopeless, and therefore the future ruler hardly suspected of imminent changes in her destiny. But Edward VIII unexpectedly abandoned the crown for the sake of love for a troubled American woman, and Elizabeth’s father was at the helm; the girl at that time was only ten years old, quite at a young age Princess Lilibet (as her family called her) turned into Crown Princess Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth, it must be said, was distinguished by an iron character from childhood, so, despite the plans of her crowned parents, the future ruler of Great Britain was sure that she would marry a farmer. Or better yet: as a farmer and horse breeder, Elizabeth had a passion for horses and horse riding from an early age, so having the owner of a dozen stables as a husband would be very useful. True, Lilibet later abandoned the tempting idea because she fell in love with a sailor cadet, which, by the way, in the opinion of the royal family was little better than a farmer.
Philip, Prince of Greece and Denmark, was born in 1921 on the island of Corfu into a royal family that had lost power. His grandfather, King George I of Greece, was killed in 1913, his uncle was dethroned, and his father, having fallen into severe depression after losing all his regalia, fled Greece in disgrace, taking his entire family with him. Later, Philip's parents separated - Prince Andrew settled in Monte Carlo, where he enthusiastically squandered the family fortune, his ex-wife and children moved to Paris, where she soon lost her mind due to all the troubles that befell the family. After the sad event, Philip’s father took him in, sent the boy to a closed school so that he would not interfere with his daddy’s fun and practically forgot about him. A few years later, Philip independently, without a penny in his pocket, reached England, where his relatives sheltered him. Yes, Elizabeth’s parents definitely did not want such a betrothed for their daughter. And although the groom’s closest relatives more than once hinted to the Queen Mother and King George about a possible wedding, they only brushed it off; they had better options. But Elizabeth, having once seen the prince, could not think about anyone else, so her parents’ plans did not bother her at all. At all the events where the poor prince and the crown princess had the opportunity to meet, Elizabeth followed Philip, and it seems, despite the hopes of her parents, she was not going to deviate from her intended goal.
One of the official “before wedding” photos of Elizabeth and Philip, August 19, 1947Elizabeth's future husband graduated from his studies in 1940 with the rank of midshipman. In order to enlist in the British Navy, he is forced to renounce all his titles and become Prince Mountbatten. Already in the status of a British military man, Philip went to the front, from where he wrote the most tender and passionate letters to his Lilibet; his parents, however, were still adamant. There is an opinion that even during the war, taking advantage of the absence of his son, the terminally ill Prince Andrew asked George VI for consent to the marriage between Philip and Elizabeth, but immediately received a categorical refusal. Firstly, by that time the groom’s family had become completely impoverished, and secondly, what seemed a much bigger problem - during the war, almost all of Philip’s family ended up on the side of the Nazis - his sisters Margarita, Theodora and Sofia married Nazi officers. Such a relationship could tarnish the reputation of the British monarchy. Neither Elizabeth nor Philip knew anything about such a maneuver; the lovers simply waited for a meeting after long separation. By the way, Elizabeth herself wanted to go to the front, but her father strictly forbade the girl to do this - the crown princess had to be left safe and sound.
Upon returning home, Philip first went to his beloved. During the hostilities, other contenders for the hand of the future queen melted into thin air, some got married, others simply chose to continue their search. There was no one left except Philip. It was impossible to hold on any longer. Fans of the English royal family say that Elizabeth, unable to wait any longer, proposed to Philip herself, just like her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, did - her genes make themselves felt. The parents, although they were not completely satisfied, still agreed to the marriage; Elizabeth’s stubbornness was indestructible.
Front door wedding photo, November 20, 1947Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, November 20, 1947The engagement was announced in July 1947. The wedding was planned for November of the same year. According to tradition, the wedding took place in Westminster Abbey. If the bride was represented by everyone British court, then the groom was allowed to invite only his mother to the celebration, who had been teetering on the edge of reality and non-existence for many years. As expected, the bride was accompanied to the altar by her father. She wore an ivory satin dress embroidered with thousands of pearl and crystal beads. It took court designer Sir Norman Harnell several months to create it. However, rich outfits with incredibly long trains are in honor of this royal family - just remember Princess Diana.
After the wedding, the newlyweds led an active social life, went to horse races, attended social events, and even from time to time appeared on dance floors, where representatives of not high society. It was then that the first rumors arose about the prince’s free character. Tired of constant surveillance - a secretary followed on Philip's heels, who in fact was called upon to guard the honor of the queen, and the prince at the same time, the journalists did not give a moment of rest - Lilibet increasingly showed an iron character, insisting on her own, making decisions without consulting with my husband, in short, in full force was preparing to become queen not only in the country, but also in own family. The romantic prince increasingly spent time away from his young wife, and, judging by the assurances of experts, even fell in love with singer Pat Kirkwood. True, the couple never got to bed, despite everything, Philip was devoted to his queen, probably, sometimes he just needed to forget that his fate was to always be the shadow of his crowned wife.
The conversations stopped after Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Charles. Then the couple left together for Malta, where Philip was sent on duty. Everything calmed down, perhaps it was then that the strong, strong-willed, unbending Crown Princess Elizabeth truly felt like a wife and mother. She cooked on her own, invited the wives of Philip’s colleagues to visit, gossiped and played with little Charles. Harmony and happiness collapsed in one second - King George VI of England died. Philip was the first to know about his death. At this time, he and Elizabeth were touring Kenya, and he knew that this news would be a real shock for his wife. Philip has always been his wife’s main support. And he became the first who, traditionally bowing his knee, took an oath of allegiance to his queen: “I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, become your lifelong vassal and lowest servant; I promise to serve you faithfully and die for you, no matter what happens. May God help me!”
After Elizabeth ascended the throne, a serious dispute broke out at court. After the death of George VI, Philip's uncle, Dickie, raised the issue that ruling house from now on, the house of Mountbatten should appear, and not Winhealth - this statement was received with hostility by Queen Mother Elizabeth. The Queen was at a loss; on the advice of the wise Prime Minister Winston Churchill, she refused to take her husband’s surname, but seeing how upset Philip was about this, she herself fell into despair.
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip with their first children, Charles and Anne, 1951. There are still 2 whole years of freedom before Elizabeth's coronation.In the spring of 1959, the Queen became pregnant again. This time she decided to reconsider her surname, changing it to Mountbatten. She wanted to please her husband, whom she continued to love immensely. The result of a long discussion was that Charles and Anne would remain Windsors, while the rest of the heirs would bear the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. So, in February 1960, the second son of the royal couple, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was born. Elizabeth, as a sign of her devotion to her husband, named the boy in honor of Philip's father Andrei. After such a turn, Philip got rid of his complexes and found something he liked - he began to engage in charity work. His focus was on sports, youth and education issues.
Always remaining one step behind his wife in public life, Philip still achieved the right to have the first vote in the family. He was involved in issues of children's education, everyday problems- in this Elizabeth could completely rely on her husband. By the way, it was Philip who once insisted on Charles’s marriage. Despite resistance from his son, Philip literally stopped all disputes with one movement of his hand: Charles had to leave his mistress Camilla and marry a decent girl. You and I know very well how it all ended. Actually, since the time of Princess Diana, the relationship between father and son has changed dramatically. Several times Charles even publicly accused his father of numerous infidelities, Philip remained calm.
After Charles's divorce from Diana, the Queen officially announced that Prince Charles had lost his right to the throne and William was declared heir to the throne. Years after Charles's marriage to Camilla, Elizabeth announced that her son could still "take responsibility for the monarchy." Today, Elizabeth again doubted her son’s abilities. Many years later, correspondence between Philip and Diana was unexpectedly published, from which it became obvious that the prince treated Spencer as my own daughter. He knew very well how difficult it was to feel like you belonged in the royal family, especially if you were not welcome there. Diana wrote long emotional letters to her father-in-law. Philip responded with short notes, copies of which he kept. Diana called him “Pa” - like her father. The queen and her husband had a cool relationship with their own children - the offspring were more disappointing than pleasing, perhaps that is why the crowned couple adores their grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren.
Today at royal house calmly. The Queen spends a lot of time on her estate, where she walks arm in arm with her beloved husband, trains dogs, raises horses, and does not like it when her and Philip’s privacy is violated.
Anniversary portrait of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, taken for the 70th anniversary of their wedding. November 2017Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II), full name - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary). Born 21 April 1926 in London. Queen of Great Britain since 1952.
She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, at the age of twenty-five, following the death of her father, King George VI. Is among all monarchs in British history.
The oldest British (English) monarch in history.
She also ranks second in the world for the longest tenure as head of state among all current current heads states (after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand). She is the oldest female sitting head of state in the world, and the oldest sitting head of state in Europe.
Is the oldest sitting monarch in the world since 24 January 2015, following the death of the King Saudi Arabia Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
Comes from the Windsor dynasty.
She is the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations and, in addition to Great Britain, the queen of fifteen independent states: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua - New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica.
He is also the head of the Church of England and Supreme Commander Armed forces UK.
Queen of Great Britain
Eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (future King George VI, 1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her grandparents: on her father's side - King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary, Princess of Teck (1867-1953); on the mother's side - Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Earl of Strathmore (1855-1944) and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1862-1938).
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London's Mayfair at the Earl of Strathmore's residence at No. 17 Brewton Street. The area has now been rebuilt and the house no longer exists, but there is a memorial plaque on the site. She received her name in honor of her mother (Elizabeth), grandmother (Maria) and great-grandmother (Alexandra).
At the same time, the father insisted that his daughter’s first name be like the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie was discussing the girl's name with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Maria. The names are all good, that’s what I told him, but about Victoria I absolutely agree with him. It was unnecessary".
Princess Elizabeth's christening took place on May 25 in the chapel. Buckingham Palace, later destroyed during the war.
In 1930, Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born.
Got a good one home education, mainly of a humanitarian nature - she studied the history of the constitution, jurisprudence, religious studies, art history, and also (virtually independently) the French language.
From a young age she was interested in horses and practiced horse riding. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades.
At birth, Elizabeth became Princess of York and was third in the line of succession to the throne after her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) and her father. Because Prince Edward was quite young and expected to marry and have children, Elizabeth was not initially considered a viable candidate for the throne.
However, Edward was forced to abdicate eleven months after the death of George V in 1936. Prince Albert (George VI) became king, and 10-year-old Elizabeth became heir to the throne and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace. At the same time, she remained in the role "heir presumptive"(“heir presumptive”), and if George VI had a son, he would inherit the throne.
World War II began when Elizabeth was 13 years old.
On October 13, 1940, she spoke on the radio for the first time - with an appeal to children affected by the disasters of war.
In 1943, her first independent appearance in public took place - a visit to the regiment of Guards Grenadiers.
In 1944, she became one of the five "councilors of state" (persons authorized to perform the functions of the king in the event of his absence or incapacity).
In February 1945, Elizaveta joined the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” - women's self-defense units - and was trained as an ambulance driver, receiving military rank Lieutenant Her military service lasted five months, which gives reason to consider her the last not yet retired participant in the Second World War (the penultimate was Pope Benedict XVI, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the German armed forces).
In 1947, Elizabeth accompanied her parents on a trip to South Africa and on her 21st birthday she spoke on the radio. solemn promise dedicate his life to the service of the British Empire.
King George VI, Elizabeth's father, died on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth, who was on holiday in Kenya at the time with her husband, was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain.
The coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. It was the first televised coronation of a British monarch, and the event is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of television broadcasting.
Coronation of Elizabeth II
Full title Elizabeth II in Great Britain sounds like "Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other kingdoms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".
After that, in 1953-1954. The queen made a six-month tour of the Commonwealth states, British colonies and other countries of the world.
Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.
In 1957, after the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, due to the lack of clear rules for choosing a leader in the Conservative Party, Elizabeth II had to appoint a new head of government from among the Conservatives. After consultations with prominent party members and ex-Prime Minister Churchill, 63-year-old Harold Macmillan was appointed head of government.
In the same year, Elizabeth made her first visits to the United States and Canada as Queen of Canada. She also spoke for the first time at a session of the UN General Assembly. She was present at the opening of the session of the Canadian Parliament (for the first time in history with the participation of the British monarch). She continued her travels in 1961, when she made visits to Cyprus, the Vatican, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, and Ghana.
In 1963, after the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan, on his advice, Elizabeth appointed Alexander Douglas-Home as Prime Minister.
In 1976, Elizabeth II inaugurated (as Queen of Canada) the XXI Olympic Games in Montreal.
1977 was an important year for the Queen - the 25th anniversary of Elizabeth II's tenure on the British throne was celebrated, in honor of which many ceremonial enterprises were held in the Commonwealth countries.
Late 1970s - early 1980s a number of assassination attempts were made against the royal family. In particular, in 1979, the Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists killed the uncle of Prince Philip (the Queen’s husband), an influential statesman and military leader Lord Louis Mountbatten. And in 1981, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Elizabeth II herself during a military parade in honor of the holiday. official day birth" of the queen.
In 1981, the wedding of Elizabeth II's son Prince Charles took place, which would later become a big problem for the royal family.
At this time in 1982, as a result of changes to the Canadian Constitution, the British Parliament lost any role in Canadian affairs, but the British Queen still remained the head of state of Canada. In the same year, the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Great Britain in the last 450 years took place (the Queen, who is the head of the Anglican Church, received him personally).
In 1991, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the US Congress.
1992 was a “terrible year,” according to Elizabeth II herself. Two of the Queen's four children - Prince Andrew and Princess Anne - divorced their spouses, Prince Charles separated from Princess Diana, Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire, and the Queen was required to pay income tax, funding for the royal court was noticeably reduced.
In 1996, at the insistence of the Queen, an official divorce was signed between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
A year later, in 1997, there was tragic death Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris that shocked not only the royal family, but also millions of ordinary Britons. For restraint and lack of any reaction to the death ex-daughter-in-law, criticism immediately rained down on the queen.
In 2002, ceremonial events were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the British throne (Golden Jubilee). But in the same year, the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and the queen mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.
In 2008, for the first time in history, the Anglican Church, of which Elizabeth is the head, held a service on Maundy Thursday, which traditionally involves the reigning monarch, outside of England or Wales - in St. Patrick's in Armagh in Northern Ireland.
In 2010, she spoke at the meeting for the second time General Assembly UN. Introducing the Queen general secretary The UN Ban Ki-moon called it “the saving anchor of our era.”
In 2011, the first ever state visit of a British monarch to independent Ireland took place. In the same year, the wedding of Prince William (grandson of Elizabeth II) and Catherine Middleton took place.
In 2012, the XXX Olympic Games were held in London, inaugurated by Elizabeth II, and the new law, changing the order of succession to the throne, according to which male heirs lose priority over women.
In 2012, the 60th (“diamond”) anniversary of Elizabeth II’s tenure on the throne was solemnly celebrated in Great Britain and other countries. On June 3, a solemn water parade of more than a thousand ships and boats took place on the Thames. It is believed that this is the most grandiose river procession in history. On June 4, 2012, a concert took place on the square in front of Buckingham Palace with the participation of such stars of British and world music as Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Grace Jones, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones and others. The organizer of the evening was Take That lead singer Gary Barlow.
In 2013, Elizabeth II refused to go to a summit of heads of state for the first time in 40 years. British Commonwealth, taking place in Sri Lanka. Britain was represented at the summit by Prince Charles, indicating the gradual transfer of Elizabeth's powers to her son.
The Queen's interests include breeding dogs (including corgis, spaniels and Labradors), photography, horse riding, and travel. Elizabeth II, maintaining her prestige as Queen of the Commonwealth, travels very actively throughout her possessions, and also visits other countries of the world: she has made more than 325 foreign visits.
I started gardening in 2009.
In addition to English, he is also fluent in French.
Elizabeth II's height: 163 centimeters
Personal life of Elizabeth II:
In 1947, at the age of 21, she married 26-year-old Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), a British naval officer, a member of the Greek (son of Prince Andrew of Greece) and Danish royal families and great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.
They met in 1934, and fell in love, it is believed, after Elizabeth visited the Naval College at Dartmouth in 1939, where Philip studied.
Having become the princess's husband, Philip received the title Duke of Edinburgh.
A year after the wedding - in 1948 - Elizabeth and Philip had their eldest son. And on August 15, 1950 - daughter, Princess Anne.
Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten
In 1960, the Queen gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew. In 1964, she gave birth to her third son, Prince Edward.
Children of Elizabeth II:
Born November 14, 1948. On 29 July 1981 he married Lady Diana Spencer. On August 28, 1996, the couple filed for divorce. They had two sons: the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wales.
Prince William, married to , has two children: Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
Princess Anne, “Princess Royal” - born August 15, 1950. She was married to Mark Phillips from November 14, 1973 to April 28, 1992 (divorced). The couple had two children: Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York- born February 19, 1960. He was married to Sarah Ferguson from July 23, 1986 to May 30, 1996 (divorced). The couple had two daughters: Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie (Eugenia) of York.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex- born March 10, 1964. Married to Sophie Rhys-Jones (wedding on June 19, 1999). The couple have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The role of Elizabeth II in the political and social life of Great Britain:
In accordance with the British tradition of parliamentary monarchy, Elizabeth II performs mainly representative functions, having virtually no influence on the governance of the country. However, during her reign she successfully maintained the authority of the British monarchy. Her responsibilities include visiting various countries with diplomatic visits, reception of ambassadors, meetings with high-ranking government officials(especially with the Prime Minister), reading of annual messages to parliament, presentation of awards, knighting, etc.
The Queen also looks through the main British newspapers every day and, with the help of servants, answers some letters that are sent to her in huge quantities (200-300 pieces daily).
Throughout her time on the throne, the Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers. At the same time, she always remained faithful to tradition English kings modern times - to be above political battles. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth II should not publicly express her political likes or dislikes. She always followed this rule, acting non-publicly - that's why she Political Views remain unknown.
Three times during her reign, the Queen had constitutional problems with the formation of the British government.
In 1957 and 1963, in the absence of a clear mechanism for electing a leader in the Conservative Party, it was the Queen who had to decide who to entrust the formation of the government after the resignations of Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.
In 1957, Anthony Eden refused to advise the Queen on who to appoint as his successor, and she sought advice from, as the only living Conservative Prime Minister at the time (following the precedent that, after the resignation of Andrew Bonar Law in 1923, King George V was consulted with Lord Salisbury's father and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour).
In 1963, Harold Macmillan himself advised the appointment of Alec Douglas-Home as his successor. And in 1974, after the resignation of Edward Heath as a result of an unclear election outcome, Elizabeth II appointed opposition leader Harold Wilson as prime minister.
In all these cases, the Queen acted according to the British constitutional tradition that she should not make any important decisions without the advice of her ministers and privy councilors.
In addition, British prime ministers meet with the Queen every week. The Queen is more knowledgeable on most matters than she appears at first glance. In addition, the Queen has regular meetings with other Commonwealth ministers and premiers when they are visiting the UK. Also, during her stay in Scotland, she meets with the First Minister of Scotland. The Ministry and British diplomatic missions send her regular reports.
Although it is customary that the Queen does not interfere in politics, due to the fact that during her long reign she had the opportunity to work with many prime ministers and leaders of other countries, her advice is always taken seriously. In her memoirs she wrote about her weekly meetings with Queen Elizabeth: "Anyone who thinks that they [meetings] - simple formality or social convention, is deeply mistaken. In fact, they take place in a calm business atmosphere, and Her Majesty always demonstrates her ability to cover a wide range of issues and her wide experience.".
Elizabeth II is actively involved in charity and social activities. The Queen of Britain is a trustee of more than 600 different public and charitable organizations.
In addition to her duties, Elizabeth II also has certain inalienable rights as a monarch (royal prerogatives). For example, she can dissolve parliament, reject a candidate for prime minister (who seems unsuitable to her), and so on.
Financial costs to the queen:
Thus, according to data from Buckingham Palace, in the 2008-2009 financial year, each Briton spent 1 dollar 14 cents on the maintenance of the monarchy, which amounted to a total of $68.5 million.
In 2010-2011, due to the government's new economic program, the Queen was forced to reduce her spending to $51.7 million.
Starting in 2012, Elizabeth’s income began to grow again (at an approximate rate of 5% per year).
Such figures cause dissatisfaction among the republican-minded part of the British population, which considers it necessary to cut them.
States whose head was or is Elizabeth II:
Upon her accession to the throne in 1952, Elizabeth became queen of seven states: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon.
During her reign, some of these countries became republics. At the same time, as a result of the decolonization process, numerous British colonies gained independence. In some of them, the Queen of Great Britain retained the status of head of state, in others - not.
Abolition of the monarchy in the original dominions of Elizabeth II:
Pakistan - in 1956 (formerly Dominion of Pakistan)
South Africa - in 1961 (formerly South Africa)
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - in 1972 (former Dominion of Ceylon).
New independent states who preserved the monarchy:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Grenada
Papua New Guinea
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Solomon Islands
Tuvalu
Jamaica
Newly independent states that abandoned the monarchy:
Guyana
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Mauritius
Malawi
Malta
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Tanganyika
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Fiji
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary in November. From the outside, this union seems ideal, but things were not always smooth in the relationship between the royal couple, and Philip’s increased love of love is to blame for this. the site remembers the women because of whom royal marriage more than once found itself on the verge of collapse.
Historians believe that Prince Philip was not always faithful to Elizabeth II
At a time when almost every second marriage ends in divorce, it is impossible not to admire the patience and ability to forgive 92-year-old Queen Elizabeth II and 97-year-old Prince Philip. This union was formed more than 70 years ago and has withstood fire, water and copper pipes.
Young Elizabeth fell in love with the handsome Philip Mountbatten at first sight. Then the girl was only 13 years old, and young man- 18, and, as you might guess, he was more interested in his peers.
“Philip instantly charmed the princess. “She never looked at anyone the way she looked at him,” said Elizabeth’s cousin Margaret Rhodes.
But the Prince of Greece and Denmark did not immediately like it mutual feelings to the heiress British throne.
In his youth, tall and beautifully built, Philip had romance after romance: the charismatic blond captivated girls with just one look with a seductive squint. At the height of World War II, he dated Canadian-born Osla Benning, who herself changed men like gloves. The girl was sure that the prince was just a passing fancy, but she quickly lost her head in love. It didn’t work out with Benning, and Mountbatten switched to other people. According to rumors, by the end of the war he had two girls from Australia who had no idea about each other’s existence.
Grandma also got caught in Philip's love net famous models Cara and Poppy Delvigne Angela. They met back in the 1930s and were rumored to be more than just friends. Allegedly, the connection flashed through the years and the legal spouses did not interfere with them at all.
In his youth, Philip Mountbatten had close contact with Angela Delvigne
In the mid-1940s, Prince Philip again met Princess Elizabeth, with whom he had been corresponding all this time. The matured and prettier girl seemed very interesting to him, and in the summer of 1946 he asked for her hand in marriage. At first, George VI was not delighted with his potential son-in-law: the king had heard a lot about his arrogant behavior and love victories. In the end, no one began to oppose this union: in November 1947, Philip and Elizabeth got married in Westminster Abbey. On the eve of the wedding, the Prince of Greece and Denmark, realizing that sooner or later he would find himself in the shadow of his queen wife, joked: “Either I am very brave or incredibly stupid.”
In February 1952, George VI died, and 25-year-old Elizabeth had to take the throne. The husband of the British Queen did not like that his opinion was completely ignored. In addition, Philip was offended that he had to obey his wife in everything. Problems in family life It was not long in coming: in England, almost no one doubted that Mountbatten was cheating on his wife. But if you believe some biographers, Philip began having affairs on the side even before his wife ascended the throne...
In this article we will talk about women with whom the unfree Prince Philip was credited with having too close relationships.
She was an actress
Unlike his sedate and sensible wife, Prince Philip was always drawn to exploits. Elizabeth valued her husband, so from the very beginning of their relationship she did not limit his freedom. To take a little break from palace life, full of strict rules, Philip visited a private gentlemen's club in London every week. According to rumors, at these parties the prince behaved like a real playboy.
Prince Philip used to be a great connoisseur of female beauty
“Meetings at the club became an opportunity for Philip to escape from harsh reality. Both he and his friends gave the impression of being ladies' men. The men were surrounded by naked dancers, and alcohol flowed like a river,” the doctor claimed historical sciences Cambridge University Piers Brandon.
During one of these “free evenings,” Prince Philip met singer and actress Pat Kirkwood, who enjoyed incredible success in the 1940s. The famous English film critic Kenneth Tynan even called her legs “the eighth wonder of the world,” and many men were absolutely in agreement with him.
Pat and Philip met in October 1948. The acquaintance was arranged by their mutual friend, photographer Baron Nahum: he brought the Duke of Edinburgh to the celebrity’s dressing room after the performance. The actress instantly charmed the prince, and that same evening he took her to a fashionable restaurant, not worrying at all that the visitors might recognize him. As the English media write, Pat and Philip danced all night. Mountbatten hugged Kirkwood and whispered something in her ear. Only in the morning the new acquaintances went to Baron’s apartment. What happened during closed door, there will be no way to find out.
Perhaps they would have turned a blind eye to this story if not for one circumstance: Elizabeth II at that moment was in the eighth month of pregnancy and was awaiting the birth of their first child, Charles.
Pat Kirkwood and Prince Philip subsequently met six more times, but the details of these dates are kept secret. It is also known that the actress and the Duke of Edinburgh exchanged letters for several months.
There were rumors in the British press that the Duke of Edinburgh was in a relationship with actress Pat Kirkwood
The husband of Elizabeth II never gave any comments on this topic, but the artist instructed her assistant to make public the details of her relationship with a representative of the British royal family after her death. In 2007, Pat died, and some of her messages to Philip became public. An interesting fact: Kirkwood claimed that there was no trace of an affair - they were connected exclusively by friendly feelings.
It turned out that all this time Pat was upset by the gossip discrediting her honor, and she asked Philip to speak out official denial their connections.
But the prince did not follow the lead of his good friend, citing the fact that it was not in his power. Kirkwood had to stand up for herself. “A lady should not defend her honor, a gentleman should do that. My life would have been easier if Prince Philip had not shown up in my dressing room uninvited. It would have been better if he had stayed at home with his pregnant wife that evening,” the artist told reporters angrily.
Oh these kids
The public had not yet forgotten about the prince’s possible affair with one of the highest paid actresses in Great Britain, when information about another of his novels began to appear in the local tabloids. All this time, Philippe allegedly did not stop loving his old friend, cabaret star and singer with French roots, Hélène Cordette.
Philip and Helen met back in 1927. The young prince I was always attracted to a girl who was four years older. However, their paths diverged: in 1938, the artist married a man named William Kirby. Family life did not work out, and just a few years after the wedding, Cordette left her husband. Philip supported his friend at such a difficult moment and continued to communicate with her.
Rumor has it that even after marrying Elizabeth II, Philip could not forget his childhood friend Hélène Cordette
In the mid-forties of the last century, Helen gave birth to a son, Max, and then a daughter, Louise. The singer decided not to advertise the name of the children’s father, but one thing was clear: her ex-husband William is not. But the godfather was known to the whole world - Cordette entrusted this honorable duty to her to a close friend, Prince of Greece and Denmark. Then many people suspected that godfather- not only godfather...
After Philip Mountbatten married Elizabeth II, this story was repeated to him several times. The prince was criticized for acting unmanly, not wanting to recognize his supposedly own children.
Hélène Cordette herself added fuel to the fire by flatly refusing to advertise her personal life.
Years later, it became known that Max and Louise's father was actually test pilot Marcel Boisseau. However, some still believe that Prince Philip was involved.
Sea captain
In the mid-1950s, a serious discord emerged in the relationship between Prince Philip and his legal wife. The Duke of Edinburgh is tired of being the eternal “number two” and unquestioningly obeying his wife. In October 1956, the Prince Consort went on a tour on the royal yacht Britannia. It was assumed that Philip would be gone for several weeks, but the voyage dragged on for four months. It seemed that the husband of Elizabeth II wanted to escape from problems.
In 1956, a crisis arose in the family life of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II
By the beginning of 1957, the Western media were savoring the details of what was happening on the ship. There were rumors that the prince threw loud parties and brought mistresses, whose names remained secret. Some tabloids even managed to separate Philip and Elizabeth...
The situation became so tense that members of Parliament began to keenly ask the queen when her husband would return. Philip, meanwhile, was in no hurry to get home. To reason with her husband, Elizabeth had to secretly fly to him in Portugal. The queen's words were convincing: the husband returned to the family, and the crisis was over. But how long did it last?
In bed with the enemy
After the reunion, Elizabeth bore Philip two more sons, Andrew and Edward. It seemed that harmony and mutual understanding had once again reigned in the family, but foreign tabloids tried to separate the titled spouses. In Australia, a book about the mistresses of the Prince Consort was widely discussed, which, naturally, they did not dare publish in Great Britain. When the local magazine Woman's Day published several excerpts, an outbreak another scandal. It was alleged that the monarch and her husband had developed serious problems in life, let's say, an alcove. Allegedly, Elizabeth knew very well about all her husband’s adventures, which is why she refused him intimacy.
There were rumors that the Prince Consort was having an affair with actress Merle Oberon
The conversation also turned to other mistresses of the Duke of Edinburgh. He was credited with romances with Oscar nominee Merle Oberon (according to rumors, the actress kept a portrait of Philip in a silver frame, which he personally signed for her, until the end of her life), as well as with the writer Daphne Du Maurier.
The possible connection between the husband of Elizabeth II and actress and TV presenter Katie Boyle was also widely discussed. That same book claimed that the romance between the prince and the celebrity “was very passionate.” Years later, Katie confirmed that she knew Philip really well. “This man is simply fantastic. But what kind of affair are you talking about? This is funny! - Boyle told a journalist from The Telegraph newspaper.
Despite numerous gossip, TV star Katie Boyle denied having a relationship with Prince Philip
But greatest attention attracted too close relations between Prince Philip and Princess Alexandra of Kent, cousin Queen Elizabeth II. According to British historians, representatives of the royal family began to show sympathy for each other in 1957. In a sense, history repeated itself: Alexandra was only 9 years old when she first saw Philip, and he immediately fell into her heart. Although the Prince Consort and the Princess of Kent tried to be encrypted, in the depths of her soul the ruler of Great Britain knew about everything. This relationship came to an end only in 1963 - it was then that she married the aristocrat Angus Ogilvy.
In the 1980s, another “mistress” of Prince Philip was discovered. This time he himself laughed at the ridiculous gossip. The Duke of Edinburgh was credited with an affair with a young beauty, Lady Penelope Brabourne, who was half his age.
The Duke of Edinburgh and Lady Brabourne were connected only by a mutual love of equestrian sport
Philip and Penelope were often seen together in public, which is why bad rumors began to spread. Everything turned out to be painfully prosaic: both took part in horse-drawn competitions, and accordingly, they often trained together.
It's not my fault, they came on their own
In the end, the prince got tired of numerous accusations of infidelity and closed this topic once and for all in 1992. During one of the interviews, Philip stated that even if he wanted to have a mistress, he would not have succeeded.
“Have you really not realized over the past 40 years that I am constantly under surveillance? I don’t remember going anywhere without being accompanied by police and security,” explained the husband of Elizabeth II.
Writer Sarah Bradford believes that the Duke of Edinburgh was disingenuous. According to the biographer, the prince had many fans, but he chose little-known girls so as not to attract undue attention. “He had several serious affairs. And now we’re not talking about Pat Kirkwood... He was always attracted to beautiful young girls from aristocratic families,” the author explained in an interview with The Telegraph. Sarah believes that the queen always knew about her husband’s excessive love, and therefore accepted him as he was: “She thinks that all men are polygamous, and reacts calmly to this.”
But those close to the Prince Consort continue to insist that he was always as pure as a baby’s tear. They say that Philip admired women, but did not allow himself too much.
Which of this is true and which is not is no longer so important today. Despite all the crises, Philip and Elizabeth II lived a long life together and did not try to separate. Rare joint photographs show how elderly spouses care for each other touchingly, and this speaks more eloquently than any speculation or gossip.