MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

The engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced in July 1947 and the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 20 November that year.

Their formal introduction had taken place in July 1939 during a visit by King George VI and his family to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Prince Philip had been introduced to Princess Elizabeth at the house of the Captain of the College. After that time they had maintained a regular correspondence and met on several occasions.

Shortly before the wedding, the bridegroom was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich with the style of His Royal Highness and appointed a Knight of the Garter by the King.

After the wedding, The Duke of Edinburgh resumed his naval career. In 1949 he was posted to HMS CHEQUERS, leader of the first Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet, in Malta. Princess Elizabeth went out to Malta to join him when she could, living the life of a naval wife.

Prince Philip also began to support his wife in her official Royal work. In October and November 1951, Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh made their first major tour together, to Canada and the United States. Afterwards the Duke was made a Privy Counsellor.

The Queen and Prince Philip had two children before The Queen acceded to the throne (Prince Charles and Princess Anne) and two after (Prince Andrew and Prince Edward).

They have eight grandchildren.