Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate 73 years of being married on Nov. 20, and Buckingham Palace released a new photo of the royal couple to mark this special occasion.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are pictured beaming with happiness as they read the colorful anniversary card made by their great-grandchildren, Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 2. According to reports, Prince William and Kate Middleton's children adorned the card with the number 73, which pops out from the front side.
Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 lockdown, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip haven't seen their great-grandkids much this year. While the Cambridge family spent a weekend in Balmoral over the summer, they had to socially distance themselves from the elderly royals to avoid any potential health risks.
The anniversary photo was taken at the Oak Room of Windsor Castle, where the 94-year-old monarch and her 99-year-old husband have been isolating as the U.K. is on its second nationwide lockdown. Apart from George, Charlotte, and Louis' card, Her Majesty and Prince Philip also received cards and letters from other royal family members.
The Queen and Prince Philip have four children, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. They will welcome their ninth great-grandchild in early 2021.
Queen Elizabeth wore a pale blue Stewart Parvin dress pinned with a Chrysanthemum Brooch for this anniversary photo. This sapphire and diamond jewelry denotes a special meaning. She wore the same brooch on her honeymoon with Prince Philip in 1947 in Hampshire. Her Majesty also had the same piece for their 60th wedding anniversary photo in 2007, according to Town & Country.
Daily Mail reported that the royal couple will likely celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary with a dinner and a walk around the Windsor grounds. Three years ago, the royal couple marked their platinum wedding anniversary with a black-tie dinner at Windsor Castle among 100 family members and close friends.
Queen Elizabeth was 21 years old when she exchanged vows with Philip. Five years later, she became the Queen of England and had been reigning for nearly 69 years.
Amid balancing their royal roles and responsibilities as parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. However, Her Majesty remains dutiful to her commitment as the mother of the U.K. since day one of her reign.
Vanity Fair royal expert Katie Nicholl said that Queen Elizabeth would never abdicate and pass down the crown to her heir, Prince Charles, because it is "not in her DNA." It comes as rumors have been buzzing that Her Majesty is ready to retire and enjoy the rest of her life with Prince Philip.
However, Buckingham Palace announced that preparations are underway for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, essentially shutting down rumors that she will step down when she's 95 years old.
