A new portrait of the Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh has been released as a weekend of celebrations for the monarch’s birthday begins.
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Whilst increasingly discreet about his emotions after their wedding, before their marriage, Prince Philip penned a letter to his princess, telling her that he wondered if he deserved “all the good things which have happened to me, ‘ and in particular, ‘to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly” – a love that has continued for nearly 70 years.
Philip, born Philippos Schleswig-Holstein Sonderburg-Glucksburg in Greece on June 10, 1921, to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, married Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in 1947.
And William, Kate and Harry, and other members of the Royal Family will attend a reception at the City of London’s Guildhall for members of the congregation.
This does not mean Philip is embarrassed to be with the ruler of England.
“Laughter isn’t just the best medicine”, Brandreth writes in the latest issue of Radio Times.
In a long history of brass-playing excellence, which dates back to 1900, Foden’s Band has played by Royal Command on four occasions: for King George V and Queen Mary, for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (twice) and, most recently, for the current Queen at Buckingham Palace.
“I once asked Prince Philip about the reported differences between him and his eldest son, Prince Charles”, Brandreth wrote. “She’s got great rhythm”, Anson said.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a different reason for that, though. However, due to their generation’s “stoic values”, you probably won’t see them showing much PDA.
Prince Philip can often be found speaking to young children, many of whom will have been there for several hours, helping them to hand their flowers and gifts to the Queen by ushering them through a barrier or taking the gift and handing it on.
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This appears to be the monarch’s mood lately, recalls Robert Hardman when he spoke to PEOPLE: “She’s a lot more smiley”.
