The love that lasted

The love that lasted

It’s a relationship that thrived for almost three-quarters of a century, and it began when the Queen was barely a teenager

She knew, apparently, from the very first moment they were introduced, back in 1939. Aged just 13, Princess Elizabeth blushed furiously whenever the handsome Navy cadet Philip Mountbatten – her third cousin and five years her senior – so much as glanced in her direction. Elizabeth, along with her parents and sister Princess Margaret, was visiting the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, and Philip had been appointed to entertain the princesses. Governess Marion Crawford missed nothing, recalling how impressed her young charge had been when Philip leapt across the nets on the tennis court. ”See how high he jumps, Crawfie!” she had declared.

It was to be several years before the dashing officer would suddenly realize this shy young schoolgirl had grown up… and romance truly blossomed.

Theirs was a discreet courtship – they even adopted the song People Will Say We’re in Love from the hit musical Oklahoma! because the lyrics, telling of a secret romance, were so apposite. The couple were finally married on 20 November 1947, much to the joy of a war-battered nation. In a letter to her parents, Elizabeth wrote that she and her new husband behave as though we had belonged to each other for years. Philip, meanwhile, wrote, “Cherish Lilibet. I wonder if that word is enough to express what is in me. She is the only “thing” in mthe world which is absolutely real to me”.

Following the birth of their first son Charles a year later, the young couple stayed for a time in Malta, where Philip was stationed. The Queen remarked that this was the happiest time of  her life – for once she was able to simply relax and enjoy being an ordinary Navy wife, away from the rigorous protocol that royalty demanded.

When the father, George VI, died in 1952, Elizabeth’s life – and of course, Philip’s – was to change irrevocably.

The new Queen, aged just 25, had the weight of duty and responsibility on her shoulders, but for her husband it was equally challenging. Forced to come to terms with his new role as consort, his frustration was palpable, not least to the Queen. But the foundations of their relationships were strong and stood them in good stead through almost 74 years of marriage. They shared an abundance of respect, support and, not least, humour – you only have to look at the thousands of photographs taken over the decades to see the amused glances and shared laughter that connected them.

There were challenges, heartbreaks and frustrations along the way, of course, not least within their own family, but throughout they weathered the storm together. In recent times, the couple faced - as have we all – circumstances unimagined. In 2021, the Duke spent 28 nights in hospital, while the Queen remained at Windsor in her “HMS Bubble”.

When he returned home, the couple were given a remarkable and golden gift – a rare opportunity to share valuable private time together near the end of long lives spent serving the nation. Just two month before his 100^th birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle, with the official cause of death listed as “old aged”.

The funeral took place on 17 April 2021 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Queen sat masked and alone due to COVID restrictions, mourning the loss of her husband of 73 years. Following his death, the Queen undertook an official two-week mourning period but it wasn’t long before she was back at work, faithfully serving her subject to the end.

Task 1: Timeline Creation

Objective: Help students build a chronological understanding of key events in the lives of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Instructions:

1. Read the text carefully and, in pairs, create a timeline of significant events in Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s relationship.
2. Identify at least five key moments and list them with the year they occurred.
3. Present your timeline to the class and discuss the impact each event might have had on their relationship and roles.

Sample answers might include: Their first meeting in 1939, their marriage in 1947, and the Queen's coronation in 1952.

Task 2: Letter Writing: Imagining Emotions

Objective: Encourage students to empathize and connect with historical figures by exploring emotions from key moments.

Instructions:

1. Choose one of two characters from the text – Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip.
2. Imagine you are writing a letter to a friend or family member from their perspective after one of the major events (e.g., their marriage, the Queen’s coronation, or Prince Philip’s retirement).
3. Describe your feelings and thoughts on the event, the challenges, or the joys it brought.

Example Prompt: Write as Queen Elizabeth, sharing her emotions after the coronation or during a difficult moment.

This task lets students explore how historical events affect personal lives.

Task 3: Role-Play Debate: Advice Across Time

Objective: Engage students in a creative debate where they consider leadership challenges across different eras.

Instructions:

1. Divide students into pairs. One student represents Queen Elizabeth, while the other takes on the role of a famous Ukrainian historical leader (e.g., Ярослав Мудрий).
2. Prepare for a debate on a leadership topic like "Maintaining Unity in Times of Crisis" or "Balancing Tradition and Change."
3. Each character should provide advice from their experiences, drawing from both British and Ukrainian historical contexts.

This activity encourages students to use evidence from the text and their knowledge of Ukrainian history, fostering both analytical and communication skills.