Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s marriage was the longest-lasting royal marriage in history. They were married for almost 74 years before Phillip’s death on April 9, 2021. They were also the first royal couple to celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary once they hit the 70-year mark in 2017.
A little-known fact about Elizabeth and Philip is that they were distantly related, both by blood and by marriage. Both were fifth-generation descendants of Queen Victoria, making them third cousins. Despite being relatives, the pair didn’t meet until 1934 when Elizabeth attended the wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was her uncle. George married Philip’s cousin, Princess Marina of Greece. While marrying a relative (no matter how distant) may seem odd to many, it’s been common practice for centuries for royals to marry their relatives — even first cousins.
Elizabeth and Philip were married on November 20, 1947. Although they do hold the record for the longest marriage within the royal family, their relationship had its challenges. After Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, the dynamic between the two changed drastically. Philip went from being a highly-ranked naval officer to the queen’s consort, which caused a great deal of tension between the two. But over time, they found ways to honor their commitments to each other, and at least publicly seemed to be happy with one another.
