This year English people celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the engagement of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

We will tell you how their love story began.

Princess Elizabeth was born on 21 April 1926, the eldest daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (she has a sister, Princess Margaret)., Little Elizabeth was affectionately called Lilibet in the family.

She received a good education at home (mainly in the humanities) and studied French. Her main passion in life was horses and riding.

She was not a big fan of the throne, because according to the rules, her uncle Edward VIII should be the heir to the throne. However, he decided to give up the throne for the sake of a relationship with a divorced American Wallis Simpson.

He would not be able to marry her if he became a King. Thus, Princess Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, became King of England, and his eldest daughter became the first heir to the throne.

Philip was born on June 10, 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu in the Mon Repos Palace. He was the only son of Prince Andrew, son of King George I of Greece.

When Philip’s parents divorced, the children stayed with their mother, and the father moved to Monte Carlo, where he led a very hectic life. Philip’s mother, not being able to endure the hardships of such a life, went mad and was sent to a psychiatric hospital. After that, his father took him and sent to school.

A few years later, Prince Philip went alone to England to visit relatives, where he soon met his beloved.

The first meeting of Elizabeth and Prince Philip took place in 1934. At that time, the princess was only eight years old, and her future husband was 13. They met at the wedding of the Greek princess Marina in Westminster Abbey. After that, they met several more times and each time exchanged interesting glances.

When His Excellency Philip went to war, they corresponded with Elizabeth for a long time. The young princess was very stubborn and believed that Philip was the man of her life and she did not need another man. Interestingly, they were distant relatives.

They had a common fourth cousin – great-grandmother Queen Victoria. However, even then it was clear to everyone that neither this nor any other fact would prevent them from getting married.

The engagement was officially announced in July 1947, and the wedding ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey on November 20 of that year. On the eve of his marriage, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. At the time, the princess was 21 and her husband was 26.

Before the wedding, Prince Philip, the future Duke of Edinburgh, moved to the Anglican Church, renounced the titles of Prince of Greece and Prince of Denmark and took British citizenship.

Queen Elizabeth insisted on reciting the traditional vows at her wedding and promised to obey her husband. Because everyone understood that when the princess became queen, Prince Philip would have to obey her. The couple had four children, Prince Charles (heir to the throne) and Princess Anne (heir to the throne).

All 73 years of their life together, the royal spouses supported each other and showed a good example of family life to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Queen Elizabeth II said that it was Philip who helped her carry the heavy burden of the crown. They have been an exemplary family for their country.