Queen Elizabeth Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Late Husband Prince Philip

The Queen has expressed her deep sorrow over the passing of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99 in Windsor Castle.

In a touching tribute shared on the Royal Family's social media pages, the Palace posted a portrait of the couple along with a poignant quote from the Queen's speech during their golden wedding anniversary celebration in 1997.

Reflecting on their remarkable 50-year journey together, the Queen stated, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.”

These words, spoken during a lunch at Banqueting House in London, showcased the deep bond and love shared between the royal couple.

The portrait, initially released on Philip's 95th birthday in 2016, was taken at Windsor Castle after Easter that year.

The photograph depicted the Queen and the Duke wearing complementary tones, with the Queen donning a pale pink cardigan adorned with golden buttons over a pink and white striped blouse.

Prince Philip, on the other hand, sported a pink shirt under a light brown jacket, perfectly coordinated with a matching pink pocket square.

The Queen's heartfelt tribute in 1997 followed Prince Philip's own praise for her abundant tolerance.

On their golden wedding anniversary, he acknowledged, “I think the main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage.

It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult.

You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

Shortly after the initial post, the Palace shared a second image featuring Prince Philip alongside the Queen during her coronation in 1953.

The accompanying caption emphasized Philip's unwavering commitment as he swore to be Her Majesty's loyal and devoted consort, standing by her side for nearly 70 years, from her accession in 1952 until his passing.

The Queen and Prince Philip's life together was one dedicated to public service, evolving from young sweethearts to married parents and eventually becoming great-grandparents within an expanding royal dynasty.

Their union originated from a wartime romance that began when they first met at the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth in 1939, when the Queen was just 13 years old.

In an ITV interview, Lady Pamela Hicks, Prince Philip's cousin, fondly recalled the moment Queen Elizabeth fell in love with the dashing Duke.

Lady Hicks shared, “I think she fell in love with him from that day onward, and then of course when she blossomed into a very beautiful young woman with that dazzling complexion, so he fell too.

He of course really looked like a kind of Viking god, very tall, very blonde, marvellous looking, all the girls in England were in love with him.”

The enduring success of their marriage, which spanned over 70 years, can be attributed to their shared interests and sense of duty towards their royal roles.

The official Royal Family website describes Prince Philip as a devoted consort and companion to the Sovereign for more than 60 years, from Her Majesty's accession in 1952 until his passing.