Humour gets royal couple through 70 years
LAUGHTER is the secret behind The Queen and Prince Philip’s recordbreaking marriage, royal experts have revealed.
The couple will tomorrow celebrate 70 years as husband and wife – the longest marriage in the history of the British monarchy.
And a commemorative portrait of the couple, left, has been issued to celebrate their landmark platinum anniversary.
Royal photographer Anwar Hussein saw The Queen and Prince Philip’s relationship up close when he joined them on a series of tours.
He said: “I think he has got a wicked sense of humour, which he would use sometimes to make The Queen relax. He would crack a joke.
“I don’t know if she approves of some of his jokes. But she had an amused look.”
Anwar’s son Samir, who is also a royal snapper, added: “You see it a lot when you’re photographing them that Philip will often lean over to The Queen and say a little word to her or say a little joke and then burst out into laughter.
“So humour is definitely a big part of their relationship.”
Anwar added: “You never see them having a bad time.
“I’ve never seen them in a grumpy mood, ignoring each other. I think they’re just like that.”
They met in 1939 as Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth – but at first they were just pals.
Almost a decade later they married at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony that was heard by more than 200million radio listeners around the world.
Just five years later the death of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, meant she became Queen.
According to royal author Gyles Brandreth, the turn of events put strain on their marriage. He said: “Everything changed, no question of that. I think it’s inevitable that this must have taken its toll. There must have been a price to pay.
“Prince Philip said to me, ‘I was told to keep out and I did’. He was there to be the father and to forge his own way of life and his own working life, which he did.”
Years later they faced further struggles when Prince Charles and Prince Andrew were divorced in the same year.
The Queen branded 1992 her “annus horribilis” but she and Philip stayed strong.
They will host a family dinner at Windsor Castle tomorrow.
A new BBC documentary fronted by Kirsty Young will chart their marriage. Elizabeth & Philip: Love and Duty is tomorrow at 9pm on BBC One.