The Queen and Prince Philip’s romance through the years

Happy Valentine's Day! <strong><a href="/tags/0/queen-elizabeth-ii">The Queen</a></strong> and <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-philip">Prince Philip</a></strong> celebrated 72 years of marriage last Nov. 20, and what an incredible life they've had together! <P>From announcing their engagement in 1947, marrying the next year, Elizabeth's sudden accession to the throne in 1952, their welcoming four children, and travelling all over the world together as heads of the <strong><a href="/tags/0/british-royals">Royal Family</a></strong>, they've seen a lot together! Their relationship is nothing short of inspirational to us all – steadfast and supportive through thick and thin and always full of love. They've never stopped looking at each other the way they did when they were young. <p><strong>Click through the gallery (or keep scrolling if you're on mobile) to see our favourite photos from nearly every year of their marriage!</strong> <p>Photos: &copy; Getty Images
A beaming then-Princess Elizabeth and Philip announced their engagement in 1947. A year before, Philip had asked <Strong><a href="/tags/0/george-vi">King George VI</a></strong> for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. <p>Photo; &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
Just a few months later, the couple were married on Nov. 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey. <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Following the ceremony and their procession through the streets of London... <p>Photo: &copy; AFP/Getty Images
... the couple waved to well-wishers from the Buckingham Palace balcony... <p>Photo: &copy; Central Press/Getty Images
... and also posed for official portraits with their families. <p>Photo: &copy; Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Following their nuptials, the newlyweds headed to their honeymoon at Broadlands in Romsey, Hampshire, where they posed for this sweet official photograph. <p>Photo: &copy; Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
From there, they headed to Malta for another leg of their honeymoon, where Philip was stationed with the Royal Navy at the time. They spent from 1949 to 1951 mostly living in Malta, and royal biographer <strong>Ben Pimlott</strong> later described this time as "the most normal" period in the future Queen's life. <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The newlyweds spent a lot of 1948 in the UK as well, such as this night out to the premiere of <i>Hamlet</i> with George VI (second right) and the <strong><a href="/tags/0/queen-mother">Queen Mother</a></strong>. <p>Photo: &copy; PNA Rota/Getty Images
The proud parents welcomed <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-charles">Prince Charles</a></strong> that same November. <p>Photo: &copy; AFP via Getty Images
When they weren't on royal engagements, the proud mom and dad spent most of 1949 adjusting to parenthood with their little boy. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The next year brought the birth of <strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-anne">Princess Anne</a></strong> (in the then-princess’s lap, sleeping soundly) and her christening that November, which was attended by her great-grandmother <strong>Mary of Teck</strong> (far left) along with George VI (second left) and the Queen Mother (holding Charles at right). <p>Photo: &copy; Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
In 1951, the couple moved back to London, where they again lived full time, making Clarence House their home. They remodelled it while their children were very young. This sweet photo was taken in the gardens at the home. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
They also visited Canada for the first time together that year. Contrary to appearances, this photo was taken here in Canada, not in the UK! We had the Union Jack as our flag at the time. <p>Photo: &copy; Keystone Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
On that trip, Philip and Elizabeth visited Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Toronto and took in the Calgary Stampede during a snowstorm (pictured)! <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In February 1952, the couple travelled to Kenya on an official visit. Unfortunately, their trip was cut short when George VI passed away. At that point, Elizabeth became Queen. <p>Photo: &copy; Central Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In what was a very eventful and tumultous year, Balmoral must have been a vital refuge for the family that summer. <p>Photo: &copy; Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
On June 2, 1953, Philip knelt before the Queen and swore an oath during her coronation at Westminster Abbey. <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Queen and Philip continued their Commonwealth tour later that year, travelling to Bermuda (pictured) and Jamaica... <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
... Fiji (pictured), Tonga and New Zealand late that year and Australia in early 1954. <p>Photo: &copy; Keystone/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
1955 saw the resignation of <strong>Winston Churchill</strong> as prime minister. The Queen and Philip thanked him and <strong>Clementine Spencer-Churchill </strong>by attending a dinner at the UK prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
As Charles and Anne continued to grow, the family valued their time at Balmoral became even more important during the summer months. Here, Anne and Charles make an improvised see-saw in 1957. <p>Photo: &copy; Central Press/Getty Images
In 1959, US President <strong>Dwight Eisenhower</strong> visited the Royal Family at their home at Balmoral. His son, Capt. <strong>John Eisenhower</strong>, is pictured far right. <p>Photo; &copy; Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
1960 saw the family become a squad of five as <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-andrew">Prince Andrew</a></strong> was born. <p>Photo: &copy; Keystone/Getty Images
In 1961, the royal couple travelled together to India and Pakistan on tour. <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
1964 saw the birth of the couple's fourth and final child, <Strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-edward">Prince Edward</a></strong>, who made his debut at <strong><a href="/tags/0/trooping-the-colour">Trooping the Colour</a></strong> just a few months later. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
In 1965, the Queen and Philip's longtime friend, former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, died. They attended the historical giant's funeral. <p>Photo: &copy; John Waterman/Fox Photos/Getty Images
The Queen and Philip were on hand to present the Jules Rime Cup to England as they won the World Cup of soccer in 1966. <p>Photo: &copy; Staff/AFP via Getty Images
In 1967, the family, with soon-to-be-20-year-old Charles and 17-year-old Anne, visited Sicily. <p>Photo: &copy; Terry Fincher/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The proud parents shared a special moment in 1969 when Charles was invested as Prince of Wales. <p>Photo: &copy; Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Queen and Philip went on a state-visit to France in 1972, and shared this sweet moment at a racecourse. <p>Photo: &copy; Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
That same year, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and posed for some photos, including this one of them fishing, at Balmoral. <p>Photo: &copy; Fox Photos/Getty Images
They also held special celebrations at Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey to mark the occasion. <p>Photo: &copy; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Queen and Philip have always been united by shared passions, like polo. Here in 1973, Philip dresses as an umpire at a polo match while Her Majesty attends to a horse. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
There was a happy moment for the Royal Family the same year, when Princess Anne married Captain <strong>Mark Phillips</strong>. <p>Photo: &copy; Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The couple shared a happy moment with their son-in-law, who won the Crookham Horse Trials. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The proud parents posed with their sons, Andrew, Charles and Edward, in Scotland in 1975. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/WireImage
The Queen and Philip attended the state opening of the New Zealand parliament as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, marking 25 years since she ascended the throne. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Her Majesty was also given a huge Silver Jubilee celebration in London that same year. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
When the couple opened the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton the next year, they were met by huge, cheering crowds. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 1979. They enjoyed a meeting with Bahrain's Emir that was full of laughs. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
The couple met Pope <strong>John Paul II</strong> on a visit to the Vatican in 1980. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Philip and the Queen beamed on the Buckingham Palace balcony after Prince Charles married <strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-diana">Princess Diana</a></strong> in 1981. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The horse-mad couple shared a very serious moment at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle in 1982. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library
On a state visit to the United States in 1983, the Queen and Philip visited US President <strong>Ronald Reagan</strong> and First Lady <strong>Nancy Reagan</strong> at their Rancho Del Cielo near Santa Barbara, Calif. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The next year, the couple visited Jordan, where they met with <strong>Queen Noor</strong> (left) and <strong>King Hussain</strong> (right). <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The couple shared this sweet moment while visiting Fredericton in 1984. <p>Photo; &copy; David Levenson/Getty Images
The couple's family had grown much larger by 1985, thanks to the addition of <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-william">Prince William</a></strong>, <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-harry">Prince Harry</a></strong> and several other grandchildren! <p>Photo: &copy; David Levenson/Getty Images
In 1987, the couple visited China, and even got the chance to see the Great Wall! <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
In 1988, the couple celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary for 40 years of marriage, and posed for some lovely portraits at Windsor Castle. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The couple shared a good laugh while watching the derby in Epsom, England in 1989. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Forty-four years of marriage, they still looked at each other like this! The couple shared a sweet moment during the Gulf Parade in 1991. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
In 1995, the couple travelled to South Africa, which had just had a democratic election. It looked like they had a lovely time there with each other! <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
The couple had a difficult year in 1997 with the death of Diana. But the <I>Britannia</i>, the Royal Yacht on which they had spent so many good times together in the early part of their marriage, was also decommissioned. Her Majesty even shed a tear at the event. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
As they rang in the Millennium on Dec. 31, 1999, Philip greeted the Queen with a kiss to mark a new century. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
The couple enjoyed a good laugh on tour in Winnipeg in 2002. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
Nearly 10 years after they visited South Africa together for the first time, Philip and the Queen welcomed <Strong>Nelson Mandela</strong> to Buckingham Palace for a special reception in 2003. <p>Photo: &copy; Kirsty Wigglesworth/AFP/Getty Images
How sweet! Philip bent down to pick up this bouquet as he and the Queen arrived in Germany in 2004. <p>Photo: &copy; Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
Peekaboo! Philip looks out from behind a garland as he enjoys a sweet moment with the Queen and Prince William at the Highland Games in Braemar, Scotland in 2005. <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Look how happy they all are! Philip, the Queen, Charles and <strong><a href="/tags/0/camilla-parker-bowles">Duchess Camilla</a></strong> enjoyed a laugh at the Highland gathering in 2006. <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Their love story is an inspiration to us all! This was taken in 2007. Sixty years into their marriage, they were still laughing and smiling at each other like this! <p>Photo: &copy; Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage
A sweet moment at <Strong><a href="/tags/0/peter-phillips">Peter Phillips</a></strong> and <strong><a href="/tags/0/autumn-phillips">Autumn Kelly</a></strong>'s wedding at Windsor Castle in 2008. <p>Photo: &copy; POOL/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images
Nearly 64 years after they married, the Queen and Prince Philip watched their grandson William wed <strong><a href="/tags/0/kate-middleton">Duchess Kate</a></strong>. <p>Photo: &copy; Hugo Burnand/AFP via Getty Images
In 2015, the couple returned to Malta, where they spent so much of the early part of their marriage, to host the Commonwealth Heads of State Summit. <p>Photo: &copy; John Stillwell - Pool/Getty Images
Some loves are eternal - theirs is, as is their fondness for polo, which they in together in 2018 here. <p>Photo: &copy; Antony Jones/Getty Images
It must have been very sweet for them to watch Harry marry <strong><a href="/tags/0/meghan-markle">Duchess Meghan</a></strong> in 2018, nearly 71 years after their own wedding. <p>Photo: &copy; Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images
While Philip has retired from royal duties, we will never tire of seeing him stand next to the Queen, as he did at Windsor Castle this past May. <p>Photo: &copy; Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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