The One Secret That Made the Queen & Philip’s 73-Year Marriage Work

A Love Story That Lasted Nearly Three-Quarters of a Century

When Prince Philip passed distant successful 2021 astatine the property of 99, helium and Queen Elizabeth had been joined for almost 74 years. That’s longer than astir people’s full lives! Through wars, household drama, and the immense unit of ruling a country, their matrimony stayed strong. But how?

A puerility person of the Queen, Lady Myra Butter, shared the wrong scoop with writer Gyles Brandreth for his publication Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait. Lady Myra knew some the Queen and Prince Philip since they were kids—she was adjacent adjacent capable that the Queen became godmother to Lady Myra’s daughter, Sarah.

Important Insight
Lady Myra Butter passed distant successful 2022, but her memories springiness america a rare, idiosyncratic glimpse into 1 of history’s astir celebrated royal marriages.

The Golden Rule: Don’t Try to Change Each Other

According to Lady Myra, the Queen "was madly successful emotion with Philip from the connection go—and she loved him arsenic helium was." The secret? She ne'er tried to alteration him.

"You couldn’t. She didn’t."

Lady Myra explained it perfectly: The Queen accepted Philip precisely arsenic helium was, and helium accepted her precisely arsenic she was. They respected each different arsenic equals. That communal acceptance is what made their narration enactment for 7 decades.

Different Hobbies? No Problem!

The Queen loved equine racing. Prince Philip? Not truthful much. He adjacent recovered her beloved corgis "infuriating." But here’s the beauteous part: neither of them forced the different to unreal to similar their hobbies.

• The Queen → Horses, racing, corgis
• Prince Philip → His ain interests (carriage driving, sailing, etc.)

They each did their ain thing, and that was wholly okay. Space and independency really made them closer.

Protocol vs. Personality: "Never a Step Behind arsenic a Person"

Royal rules meant Prince Philip had to locomotion a literal measurement down the Queen successful public. But Lady Myra made a important distinction:

"He walked a measurement down her due to the fact that of that, but helium was never a measurement down her arsenic a person."

In private, they were partners connected adjacent footing. The crown didn’t alteration who they were to each other.

Quick Summary: The 3 Pillars of Their Marriage

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Q: How agelong were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married?
A: Nearly 74 years—from their wedding connected November 20, 1947, until Prince Philip’s decease connected April 9, 2021.

Q: Who was Lady Myra Butter?
A: A lifelong puerility person of Queen Elizabeth. She knew some the Queen and Prince Philip from erstwhile they were kids. The Queen was adjacent godmother to Lady Myra’s daughter, Sarah.

Q: Did Prince Philip similar the Queen’s hobbies?
A: Not really! He wasn’t into equine racing and recovered her corgis "infuriating." But helium ne'er asked her to springiness them up, and she ne'er forced him to participate.

Q: What does "walking a measurement behind" mean?
A: It’s royal protocol—the consort walks down the monarch successful public. But Lady Myra emphasized this was only for show. In their existent relationship, they were implicit equals.

Q: What publication reveals these details?
A: Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait by Gyles Brandreth, published successful 2022.

The Takeaway for All of Us

You don’t request a crown to person a matrimony similar theirs. The look is elemental capable for a five-year-old to understand:

1. Love the person, not the potential.
2. Let them beryllium themselves.
3. Be equals, adjacent erstwhile the satellite says otherwise.
4. Have your ain life—and cheer them connected successful theirs.

Seventy-four years. One secret: acceptance.

Want to work more? Check retired Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait by Gyles Brandreth for the afloat story.