A Royal Love Affair

Elizabeth and Philip's deep and instant attraction overcame all obstacles and stood the test of time

- MOIRA CHISHOLM

They married in 1947, but Philip and Elizabeth's love story began long before then. They first met when she was eight and he was 13. It was at the wedding of Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and Elizabeth's uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent, in 1934.

Their more famous meeting, however, was when Princess Elizabeth was 13 and the young Prince Philip of Greece, then a naval cadet, joined the Royal Family for tea during their visit to Dartmouth Naval College.

Tall, blond and athletic, according to governess Crawfie, Elizabeth "never took her eyes off him". She was seemingly very impressed by the fact that he could jump over tennis nets! During the war, Philip - a third cousin of Elizabeth's joined family parties at the royal estates, and the pair corresponded while Philip served with the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean and Pacific.

Elizabeth kept a photo of a bearded Philip in her bedroom - it was clear she'd met the man of her dreams - while the Prince kept her picture by his bunk.