From the magnificent dress purchased with ration coupons to the 9ft-tall cake… all the thrilling details from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's fairy-tale wedding

Princess Elizabeth first met 13-year-old Philip, Prince of Greece and Denmark, at the wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina in 1934 – she was just eight years old. 

Their connection deepened during a trip to Dartmouth naval college in July 1939, where 18-year-old Philip caught the attention of 13-year-old Elizabeth. 

Though they were too young to pursue a relationship, Elizabeth’s nanny, Marion Crawford, noted that the Princess ‘never took her eyes off’ Philip during the visit.

From that point on, they kept in touch through letters while Philip served in various locations around Europe, Canada and Japan during the Second World War.

After returning to the UK, Prince Philip approached Princess Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, formally to request her hand in marriage. 

The enchanting wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947, provided a much-needed lift to the nation in the aftermath of the Second World War

The Prince proposed with a ring designed by London jeweller Philip Antrobus, featuring diamonds from a tiara belonging to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg.

Princess Elizabeth announced her engagement to Philip Mountbatten the following year after reaching the age of 21, according to King George VI’s wishes.

The day before his marriage, Philip assumed the title of Duke of Edinburgh, along with Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.

Their enchanting wedding on November 20, 1947, provided a much-needed lift to the nation in the aftermath of World War II. 

Elizabeth and Philip exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 guests, with thousands more lining the streets to witness the occasion.

It marked the beginning of what would become the longest royal marriage in history.

Princess Elizabeth was the tenth member of the British Royal Family to marry at the Abbey – the same venue her father was crowned 11 years earlier and where she herself would be just five years after her nuptials.

Among those in attendance were Prince Philip’s uncle, Earl Louis Mountbatten, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark, and the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg.

The 21-year-old Princess arrived at Westminster Abbey with her father in the Irish State Coach, escorted by the British Life Guards regiment

Elizabeth’s stunning gown was made by British couturier Norman Hartnell. He had submitted multiple designs, one of which was approved in mid-August, less than three months before the wedding

King George VI escorted Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother down the aisle of Westminster Abbey. They were followed by Queen Mary 

Princess Elizabeth walked down the the aisle of Westminster Abbey with her father King George VI as some 2,000 guests looked on

Because of rationing measures in place after the war, Elizabeth’s dress was paid for with clothing ration coupons. Hundreds from across the country sent the Princess their coupons to help, although they were eventually returned

The 21-year-old Princess arrived at Westminster Abbey with her father in the Irish State Coach, escorted by the British Life Guards regiment.

Elizabeth’s gown was made by British couturier Norman Hartnell. He had submitted multiple designs, one of which was approved in mid-August, less than three months before the wedding.

Because of rationing measures in place after the war, the dress was paid for with clothing ration coupons. Hundreds from across the country sent the Princess their coupons to help, although they were eventually returned.

Elizabeth’s stunning gown, inspired by Botticelli’s painting of Primavera, was made from duchesse satin, ordered from the firm of Wintherthur, near Dunfermline.

It was meticulously embroidered with garlands of flowers, using glittering gold and silver silk threads produced at Lullingstone Castle, Kent, and woven by Warner & Sons.

Roses, jasmine blossoms and ears of wheat – decorated with 10,000 seed pearls – adorned the gown’s bodice, full skirt and magnificent 13-foot silk tulle train, which was attached at the shoulders. It symbolised a sense of ‘rebirth and growth’ in post-war Britain.

Hartnell secretly added a lucky clover on the left side of the skirt, ‘so that Her Majesty’s hand could rest upon it during the ceremony,’ according to the Royal Collection Trust.

He repeated this ethereal style in the eight bridesmaids’ dresses, worn by Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, her cousins, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Margaret Elpinstone, Philip’s cousin, Pamela Mountbatten and her niece, Diana Bowes-Lyon.

During the ceremony, Elizabeth received a wedding ring made from the same Welsh gold as her mother’s ring, which came from the Clogau St David’s mine. In the book, Prince Philip: Revealed, author Ingrid Seward claimed it was engraved with a hidden message that only the bride, the groom and the engraver knew of

Roses, jasmine blossoms and ears of wheat adorned the gown’s bodice, full skirt and magnificent 13ft silk tulle train, which was attached at the shoulders. It symbolised a sense of ‘rebirth and growth’ in post-war Britain

Hartnell secretly added a lucky clover on the left side of the skirt, ‘so that Her Majesty’s hand could rest upon it during the ceremony,’ according to the Royal Collection Trust

Elizabeth’s gown, inspired by Botticelli’s painting of Primavera, was made from duchesse satin, ordered from the firm of Wintherthur, near Dunfermline. It was meticulously embroidered with garlands of flowers, using glittering gold and silver silk threads produced at Lullingstone Castle, Kent, and woven by Warner & Sons

The bride’s satin sandals were imagined by Hartnell and made by Rayne. The silver buckles were studded with small pearls to complement the gown

Hartnell’s ethereal style was repeated in the eight bridesmaids’ dresses, including that worn by Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, right

The British designer also created the outfits for Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) and Queen Mary.

The bride’s satin sandals were imagined by Hartnell and made by Rayne. The silver buckles were studded with small pearls to complement the gown. 

As anticipated, interest in the design of the dress was unprecedented, forcing Hartnell to whitewash and curtain the windows of his Bruton Street premises to ensure secrecy.

Elizabeth’s bouquet, offered to the Princess by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, was made with white Cattleya, Odontoglossum and Cypripedium orchids. 

Myrtle was added from the bush grown from a sprig of the bouquet of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal. 

Princess Elizabeth selected the gleaming Queen Mary Fringe Tiara as her ‘something borrowed’ from her grandmother.

Originally a necklace made by Collingwood, the diamond accessory was Queen Mary’s wedding gift from Queen Victoria in 1893. 

Mary wore the convertible jewel in various forms, including as a headpiece, before having it dismantled to create a new diamond fringe tiara.

In 1919, she asked Garrard to produce a kokoshnik (a Russian headdress) comprising 47 graduated brilliant diamonds, rose-set tapering bars and 46 narrower spikes.

But a mishap occurred on Princess Elizabeth’s wedding day: the tiara snapped when placed on the bride’s head.

Fortunately, a jeweller at Garrard was able to mend the tiara and send it back to the Princess by police escort in record time.

As a result of the hasty repair, a space was left visible between the centre fringe and the spike to its right – as shown in photographs from the day. 

Elizabeth also wore two pearl necklaces, the Queen Anne necklace and the Queen Caroline necklace, after receiving both as wedding presents from King George VI.

Princess Elizabeth selected the gleaming Queen Mary Fringe Tiara, comprising 47 graduated brilliant diamonds, rose-set tapering bars and 46 narrower spikes, as her ‘something borrowed’ 

Elizabeth’s bouquet, offered to the Princess by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, was made with white Cattleya, Odontoglossum and Cypripedium orchids. Myrtle was added from the bush grown from a sprig of the bouquet of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal

Following the ceremony, the bride rode with her new husband in the Glass Coach that was purchased for King George VI’s coronation in 1911

Once they had arrived at Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family waved to the crowd of roughly 100,000 gathered outside from the balcony

Vast crowds had gathered outside Buckingham Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom

The historic event was recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio to 200 million people all around the world.

During the ceremony, Elizabeth received a wedding ring made from the same Welsh gold as her mother’s ring, which came from the Clogau St David’s mine.

In the book, Prince Philip: Revealed, author Ingrid Seward claimed it was engraved with a hidden message that only the bride, the groom and the engraver knew of.

Following the ceremony, the bride rode with her new husband in the Glass Coach that was purchased for King George VI’s coronation in 1911.

Once they had arrived at Buckingham Palace, the couple famously waved to the crowd of roughly 100,000 gathered outside from the balcony, before enjoying an intimate wedding breakfast for just 150 guests.

Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding cake was masterminded by Mr Schur, chief confectioner at McVitie and Price Ltd, and intricately decorated with armorial bearings and two scenes depicting their lives.

As rationing was still under way, the ingredients were flown to the UK from South Africa and Australia, where they had been donated, earning it the nickname ‘10,000 mile cake’. 

The 9ft-tall cake boasted four tiers and weighed 900lb; it was so vast that it was cut with the groom’s naval sword, which had been a present from King George VI.

The confection provided 2,000 slices for guests, with hundreds further sent with hand-written notes to various charites and organisations. 

Thousands of Londoners gathered around the Victoria Memorial to cheer the newly married Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding cake was masterminded by Mr Schur, chief confectioner at McVitie and Price Ltd, and intricately decorated with armorial bearings and two scenes depicting their lives. The 9ft-tall cake boasted four tiers and weighed 900lb; it was so vast that it was cut with the groom’s naval sword

Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding marked the beginning of what would become the longest royal marriage in history

Guests included Queen Mary (third from left), Princess Margaret (beside Prince Philip), King George VI (third from right, front row) and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, next to him

When Elizabeth and Philip left for their honeymoon in an open-drawn carriage, they were showered with rose petals by the Queen Mother

When Elizabeth, who had changed into a blue coat dress by Norman Hartnell, and Philip left for their honeymoon in an open-drawn carriage, they were showered with rose petals by the Queen Mother. 

The Princess’s corgi, Susan, had been secretly placed under a rug with a hot water bottle – and the crowds of well-wishers gathered along the streets were none the wiser.

But the dog broke cover upon their arrival at Waterloo Station, with the Manchester Guardian reporting: ‘The ginger-coloured corgi jumped out before the royal couple and was taken by Palace attendants into the train.’

Elizabeth and Philip continued their trip by train to Broadlands, Hampshire, home of Lord Mountbatten, followed by Birkhall on the Balmoral estate in Scotland.

Susan the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was photographed playing outside with the royal couple a few days after their wedding ceremony.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed at Buckingham Palace until the renovation of their new home, nearby Clarence House, was completed in 1949.

In a heartfelt letter to his new mother-in-law, Philip wrote: ‘Lilibet is the only “thing” in this world which is absolutely real to me.’

Philip’s devotion to his wife was clear. His first ever private secretary Michael Parker, a friend from the Navy, revealed: ‘He told me the first day he offered me my job that his job, first, second and last was never to let her down.’

This deep, unwavering love formed the foundation of a marriage that lasted 73 years and was at the heart of the modern British monarchy.

They were together until the very end when Prince Philip died, aged 99, on April 9, 2021, and they had four children, King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

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