Queen Elizabeth II was told not to marry Prince Philip for his one trait that could have made her uncomfortable
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh have been married for almost 70 years now and their admiration for each other has yet to diminished, with the Queen referring to her husband as her “strength and stay.” Their beautiful marriage, however, would not have happened if then-Princess Elizabeth listened to her royal aides.
At the Cheltenham Literary Festival, AN Wilson revealed that a young Elizabeth was told not to marry Prince Philip because he was too funny. As the Queen was a lot more conservative and well-mannered in comparison, it was thought that they would not make a good couple.
“All the courtiers said he was entirely the wrong person to choose,” Wilson said.
The 65-year-old biographer then went on to state that from the moment it was clear that Princess Elizabeth, at the tender age of 14, was in love with the beautiful blonde prince from Germany, the royal aides made their opinion known. “They said it for lots of reasons, but the fact is he was wrong,” he said. “The Queen is [a] very reserved, diligent person. He isn't. He was a naval officer and he was also quite funny.”
Even after Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1951, Prince Philip quickly made a joke. “Where did you get that hat?” he asked her.
Wilson added that the Duke makes the kinds of jokes that are standard for someone of his past. "They are the kind of jokes a naval officer of a certain age might make,” he quipped. “I think [they are] made rather wonderfully."
Their engagement was made official in July 1947 and the two married in November of the same year. Queen Elizabeth was only 21 and Prince Philip was 26. They had their first child, Prince Charles, in 1948. Princess Anne followed in 1950 and then Prince Andrew in 1960. Prince Edward was born in 1964.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles will celebrate their 70th year anniversary on Nov. 20.
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