Royal shock: How Philip had to sacrifice THIS dream for the Queen
THE Queen and Prince Philip have been married for more than seven decades. While their romance has all the makings of a fairytale it has not been without sacrifice. This is the dream Philip had to give up when he married the Queen, a royal expert has claimed
Lady Gabriella: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have been at one another’s side for 72 years. On their golden wedding anniversary in 1997, the Queen described Philip as her “strength and stay” over the years. The Duke of Edinburgh has been a dedicated supporter and husband to the Queen since they tied the knot in 1947. But Philip’s decision to marry Elizabeth came at a huge personal cost.
The Queen’s romance with Prince Philip is worthy of a Disney film - a young princess falling in love with a dashing soldier, with “viking” good looks, fair hair and blue eyes.
Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth’s cousin, wrote in her autobiography: “Elizabeth was truly in love from the very beginning.”
The couple have four children, eight grandchildren and even a handful of great-grandchildren - and it seems their love for one another has never faded.
READ MORE: Prince Philip’s SCATHING attack on the Queen ‘Who does she think she is?’
But Philip gave up a lot for the Queen’s hand in marriage.
Not only did the Duke have to sacrifice his name, Philip Mountbatten, when he married the Queen but he had to give up his blossoming military career too.
A royal expert has claimed to know the dream that Philip gave up when he married the Queen.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “Philip’s role as Consort is far from the role he would ideally have chosen, in the navy he would probably have risen high had not the King’s failing health forced him to terminate a promising career.
“He has compensated with involvement in a considerable range of activities including founding the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and interests which range from design to painting.
“He is also practical and she has always known she could rely on his advice and that it would be valuable.”
Mr Fitzwilliams said the royal pair were “happy together” and that “since she (the Queen) met him (Philip) at Dartmouth in 1939 she has had eyes for no one else.”
According to Mr Fitzwilliams the couple’s long-lasting marriage was not to with their opposing personalities but their “marvellous mutual supportiveness.”
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “This was a marriage between temperamental opposites which has been notable, not just for its longevity, but for the marvellous mutual supportiveness that has characterised it.”
Philip has fulfilled his “two aims” of supporting his wife and Queen, Mr Fitzwilliams claimed.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “Philip has had two main aims, to support the Queen and the institution of monarchy.
“In these he has succeeded brilliantly though not without an idiosyncratic quality which has on occasion made him controversial.
“He has always been a moderniser and energetic, with a love of both sport and philosophy he is a fascinating character.
“In contrast Queen is conservative by nature and temperamentally resistant to change, this has made her ideally suited to rule as a constitutional monarch.”