It's been 69 long years of Royal wedded bliss for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Next year will be the 70th, the Platinum wedding anniversary.
Married on November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth was just 21 years. Lieutenant Philip of Mountbatten was 26 and had come back home after fighting the Second World War in the Royal Navy.
But this year 2016 has been a list of some interesting milestones for the Queen. She completed her 90th birthday while Prince Philip celebrated his 95th. She also became the longest reigning sovereign, with Prince Philip becoming the longest serving Royal Consort.
It's going to be a low-key celebration, though. The couple will just spend a lot of time together at Windsor Castle and have a quiet, private day. Even though there might be some relatives involved in the celebrations, there will be no pomp or grandeur, say reports.
They got married in 1947, but the affair started way back, when they were both teenage sweethearts. At the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, she visited with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I. Philip was 18 and liked her so much that he tried to jump off the nets with bravado, hoping that she would look at him. They started a roaring affair and got married after eight years.
Her father, King George VI, agreed to have them marry in April 1947. Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten proposed to her when they strolled around the gardens of Balmoral. He presented her with a platinum engagement ring that had a large, square diamond at the centre and smaller diamonds on the sides.
The king's official biographer, Sir John Wheeler-Bennett, recalled: "This was the man with whom Princess Elizabeth had been in love from their first meeting."
Queen Elizabeth has been a strong, stoic figure, yet she has always said that the Prince was her strength. Their relationship has been strong and special, and they are taking a day off to be with each other for a quiet celebration.
