What makes a happy marriage? Ask the Queen

Celebrating 70 beautiful years

Many congratulations to Her Majesty, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for reaching their 70th wedding anniversary. We love a classic love story, and it seems it doesn’t get much better than this. So what can we learn from the longest royal marriage in British history, to have a relationship that stands the test of time? Here’s seven suggestions, one for every decade of their grand union.

1. Tolerance

Prince Philip said it himself that, “The main lesson that we’ve learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage.” He added, “It is absolutely vital when things get difficult.” And it seems that the couple have struck an excellent balance, with the Duke adding, “You can take it from me, that The Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

2. Thoughtfulness

For their fifth wedding anniversary, the Duke of Edinburgh designed a gold bracelet for his wife with interlocking links shaped like Es and Ps and scattered with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. What a stunning and thoughtful gift!

3. Get on with the in laws

Prince Philip wrote a letter to the Queen’s mother before their wedding in which he described how he had  “fallen in love completely and unreservedly” with Elizabeth.

He added that, “The only thing in this world which is absolutely real to me, and my ambition, is to weld the two of us into a new combined existence that will not only be able to withstand the shocks directed at us but will also have a positive existence for the good.” How beautiful!

4. Enjoy shared experiences

Queen Elizabeth and her husband have toured the world together, met groups of people from nearly every walk of life and have probably mulled their trips over together afterwards. Visiting different places and seeing different situations, whether that’s states of hardship or joy, can have a profound effect on a person and sharing that experience and the life lessons learnt is such a valuable treasure.

5. Laugh. Often.

Maintaining a regal gaze is a definite talent, but it’s such a joy to see the pair relax and laugh together. Whether it’s watching the Queen’s beloved horses or enjoying the annual ceremonial occasions, the couple seem to find something to laugh about in most situations.

6. Be there

Wherever she is, he is too. The Queen expressed, on their 50th anniversary, that the Duke had, “Quite simply, been my strength and stay, all these years.” But they both admit that no two marriages are quite alike with Her Majesty affirming that they seem to have been able to strike a “good balance between our individual and joint interests.”

7. Sentiment is all

The Crown Jewels and treasures created and gifted to the royal family are utterly stunning, but it’s beautiful that the most treasured piece of jewellery is not made of exotic metal or studded with rich jewels; the Queen’s wedding band is made from a nugget of Welsh gold from Clogau St David’s mine near Dolgellau.

This happy union makes our hearts smile, what a glorious marriage they continue to uphold. It’s wonderful to take inspiration from their relationship and see that even for royals, love is love.