When Britain's 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth married 26-year-old Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in 1947, the wedding sparked joy and celebration in a country just recovering from World War II.
FILE - In this Nov. 20, 1972 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are surround by their family in Buckingham Palace, in London, on the occasion of the royal couples silver wedding. (AP Photo, File)
Seven decades on, the couple who would become Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — now 91 and 96, respectively — are still going strong, their marriage a bedrock in British public life amid a world of change.
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When Britain's 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth married 26-year-old Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in 1947, the wedding sparked joy and celebration in a country just recovering from World War II.
Seven decades on, the couple who would become Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — now 91 and 96, respectively — are still going strong, their marriage a bedrock in British public life amid a world of change.
The queen is the first monarch in British history to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary.
Elizabeth first met Philip, a naval officer and the son of Prince Andrew of Greece, as they attended the wedding of Philip's cousin in 1934.
In the decades that followed, Philip, who also holds the title Duke of Edinburgh, spent almost the entire duration of their marriage supporting his wife in her role as head of state. Both have cut back on their public engagements in recent years, and Philip retired from official duties earlier this year.
In this handout photo issued by Camera Press and taken in Nov. 2017, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip pose for a photograph in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, England. (Matt Holyoak/Camera Press via AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 19, 1965 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is surrounded by member of her family on the grounds of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. From left, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, 5. In the pram is Prince Edward. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, June 17, 2017 file photo, members of Britain's Royal family from left, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, background Timothy Laurence, Princess Beatrice, Prince Philip, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 30, 1961 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh walk, during their first visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - this is a July 10, 1947 file photo, Britain's Princess Elizabeth heir to the British throne, and her fiance, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten pose for a photograph on announcement of their engagement, in London. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this June 29, 2011 file photo, Queen Elizabeth II, right, and the Duke of Edinburgh walk back into the Palace after attending the annual summer garden party held at Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool, File)
On Monday, they mark their 70th wedding anniversary, though officials say the milestone will be celebrated privately and no public events are planned. The royal family is reportedly marking the date with a gathering at Windsor Castle.
FILE - In this Nov. 20, 1947 file photo, Britain's Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh pose for a photograph, in London, following their wedding service.(AP Photo, File)
The queen is the first monarch in British history to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary.
At their 50th wedding anniversary, Elizabeth praised her husband as "quite simply... my strength and stay all these years."
FILE - In this Nov. 20, 1947 file photo, Britain's Princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh leave Westminster Abbey, London, following their wedding service.(AP Photo, File)
Elizabeth first met Philip, a naval officer and the son of Prince Andrew of Greece, as they attended the wedding of Philip's cousin in 1934.
The pair wed at Westminster Abbey in London on Nov. 20, 1947. It would be nearly another six years before Elizabeth would be crowned as monarch, also at Westminster Abbey.
FILE - This is a June. 2, 1953 file photo of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as they wave to supporters from the balcony at Buckingham Palace, following her coronation at Westminster Abbey. (AP Photo/Leslie Priest, File)
In the decades that followed, Philip, who also holds the title Duke of Edinburgh, spent almost the entire duration of their marriage supporting his wife in her role as head of state. Both have cut back on their public engagements in recent years, and Philip retired from official duties earlier this year.
The royal couple has four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
FILE - In this Tuesday, May 23, 2017 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip observe a minute's silence, at the start of a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool Photo via AP, File)
In this handout photo issued by Camera Press and taken in Nov. 2017, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip pose for a photograph in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, England. (Matt Holyoak/Camera Press via AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 19, 1965 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is surrounded by member of her family on the grounds of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. From left, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, 5. In the pram is Prince Edward. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, June 17, 2017 file photo, members of Britain's Royal family from left, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, background Timothy Laurence, Princess Beatrice, Prince Philip, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 30, 1961 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh walk, during their first visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - this is a July 10, 1947 file photo, Britain's Princess Elizabeth heir to the British throne, and her fiance, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten pose for a photograph on announcement of their engagement, in London. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this June 29, 2011 file photo, Queen Elizabeth II, right, and the Duke of Edinburgh walk back into the Palace after attending the annual summer garden party held at Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool, File)