Was Queen Elizabeth Forced To Marry Philip?

Did the British government force Queen Elizabeth to marry Philip Mountbatten? Some say yes and point to the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII.

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The circumstances leading up to Elizabeth’s marriage

The path to Elizabeth’s marriage was full of obstacles. Philip was not her first choice, and she was even reluctant to marry him at all. Her father, King George VI, wasInitially, Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, wanted her to marry his close friend and favorite cousin, Prince Bertie of Wales (later King Edward VII).

Bertie was older than Elizabeth and had been married before, but George thought he would make a good husband for her. Elizabeth, however, did not want to marry Bertie. She thought he was too old and too set in his ways.

George then began to press her to marry Philip Mountbatten, who was related to Bertie. Philip had recently left the Royal Navy and was working in the private sector. Elizabeth did not want to marry him either. She thought he was too young and too inexperienced.

However, George continued to push for the match. He believed that Philip would be a good husband for Elizabeth and would help her reign effectively.Elizabeth eventually relented and agreed to marry Philip. The wedding took place on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey.

The political pressure on Elizabeth to marry

Elizabeth’s decision not to marry and have children was a controversial one. Her councilors, as well as her father and half-siblings, repeatedly pressured her to marry and provide England with an heir. She went through several engagements, but each time she broke them off. She was even excommunicated by the Pope for refusing to marry.

There were many political reasons for Elizabeth to marry. Her father, Henry VIII, had broken from the Catholic Church in order to divorce Elizabeth’s mother and marry Anne Boleyn. This split from the Catholic Church made Elizabeth’s position as queen precarious. If she did not produce an heir, it was likely that her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots would take the throne after her death.

Elizabeth was also under pressure to marry from her councilors. Many of them believed that she needed a husband to help her rule the country. They also thought that having children would make her more sympathetic to the people she ruled. Elizabeth was also advised to marry for foreign policy reasons. A foreign prince could help solidify England’s position on the European stage.

In the end, Elizabeth refused to be pushed into a marriage that she did not want. She reigned for over forty years and never married or had children.

The possible reasons why Elizabeth chose Philip

There are many possible reasons why Elizabeth chose Philip, ranging from the political to the personal.

On the political front, Elizabeth’s advisers may have hoped that a foreign prince would be a stabilizing force in England at a time when the country was facing internal and external challenges. Philip also brought with him a sizable dowry, which helped to ease England’s financial woes.

On a personal level, Elizabeth may have been attracted to Philip because he was tall, handsome, and athletic—qualities that were said to be lacking in her other suitors. Additionally, Elizabeth and Philip shared a love of music and horseback riding, and they are said to have bonded over their mutual interests.

The reaction of the British public to the news of the royal wedding

The reaction of the British public to the news of the royal wedding was one of mixed emotions. Some were thrilled that their country would finally have a monarchy again, while others were less than thrilled that a German prince was marrying into the British royal family. There was also some concern that Elizabeth may have been forced into the marriage by her father, King George VI.

The wedding itself – all the details

The wedding itself was a grand affair. It was held in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Princess Elizabeth wore a diamond tiara given to her by her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The dress was made of white satin and embroidered with 10,000 seed pearls. Heirloom lilies from Sandringham were used in the bouquet.

The bridal party consisted of eight attendants: The Lady Pamela Mountbatten (the bride’s first cousin and daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten), The Honorable Margaret Rhodes (the bride’s second cousin), The Lady Anne Bowes-Lyon (the bride’s first cousin), Princess Alexandra of Kent (the bride’s first cousin), Miss Nerissa Bowes-Lyon (the bride’s second cousin), The Lady Mary Cambridge (daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Cambridge and the bride’s first cousin), Miss Patricia Tuckwell (an Australian opera singer who was a close friend of the royal family) and Miss Celia Lascelles (daughter of the Earl and Countess of Harewood and a close friend of the royal family). All but two of the attendants were related to the bride.

The early days of Elizabeth and Philip’s marriage

In the early days of Elizabeth and Philip’s marriage, the couple spent time apart due to Philip’s naval duties. In 1952, Philip was posted to Malta as commodore of the Mediterranean fleet. The couple corresponded regularly, but they missed each other deeply. In one letter to her husband, Elizabeth wrote: “I can’t help feeling rather lonely without you.”

However, by 1954, the couple had grown apart and rumors began to circulate that they were considering a divorce. In order to prevent this from happening, Elizabeth’s advisers convinced her to take on more public engagements and “be seen more often” in order to make her marriage appear stronger. This plan worked and the couple reconciled shortly thereafter.

How the marriage has changed over the years

Despite being one of the most famous couples in history, there has always been speculation about the true nature of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s relationship. In recent years, some commentators have even gone so far as to suggest that Elizabeth was forced into marrying Philip by her father, King George VI.

It is true that George VI was keen for his daughter to marry a suitable European prince and that he saw Philip as a good match. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Elizabeth was anything other than a willing participant in the marriage. In fact, she is said to have been head-over-heels in love with Philip and was reportedly devastated when he was posted overseas with the Royal Navy shortly after their engagement.

The couple went on to have four children together and they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017. While their relationship has undoubtedly changed over the years, they remain one of the most respected and beloved royal couples in the world.

The couple’s children and grandchildren

The couple’s children and grandchildren have often been the subject of rumors and media speculation. One popular rumor is that Queen Elizabeth was forced to marry Philip by her mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The truth, however, is that the couple was very much in love and their marriage was a happy one.

The role that Philip has played in Elizabeth’s life and reign

As Elizabeth’s consort, Philip has played a role in support of the Queen throughout her sixty-year reign, though he has not been a public figure in recent years, carrying out only 222 solo engagements since 1997.

Elizabeth and Philip met in 1934, when she was just eight years old and he was 13. They began corresponding after he went to school in England in 1939, and their engagement was announced in 1947, when Elizabeth was 21 and Philip 26. The couple married on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey.

Since becoming queen upon the death of her father King George VI in 1952, Elizabeth has diligenly carried out her royal duties, often with Philip by her side. He retired from his naval career shortly after she ascended to the throne so that he could provide support to her as needed.

The pair have four children together: Charles (born 1948), Anne (born 1950), Andrew (born 1960), and Edward (born 1964). They have eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The speculation about what would have happened if Elizabeth had not married Philip

There has been much speculation about what would have happened if Elizabeth had not married Philip. Some believe that she would have married someone else and had a different life, while others believe that she would have remained single and devoted to her country.