Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate platinum wedding

November 20 marks the 70th anniversary of the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. In Britain, this anniversary is called platinum. Elizabeth - the first in the history of the monarch, celebrating a birthday. Round date the couple will celebrate with family and closest friends for dinner at Windsor Castle.

It is not known exactly how the Princess Elizabeth met her future husband. And a couple does not seek to uncover the mystery. The official version is that in 1934, they met at the wedding of a cousin of Philip and Elizabeth's uncle, Prince. But some argue that introduction took place earlier.

Despite the noble origin, Prince Philip was poor. His grandfather, the Greek King George I, was assassinated in 1913, his uncle - dethroned, and his father, falling into severe depression after the loss of all the regalia, with the shame fled from Greece, taking with him the whole family. And although Elizabeth's parents did not approve of the choice of his daughter, the future Queen, Prince Philip once seeing more about anyone could not think about.

The engagement between the future spouses was announced in July 1947. Wedding is planned for November of the same year. Choice of ring proved to be difficult, because it was difficult to please the girl who will inherit one of the finest collections of jewelry in the world. Philip was personally involved in the development of the design of the ring, made famous jewelry firm Philip Antrobus Ltd. The ring was encrusted with diamonds three carats. Until now, the queen of the ring had never parted.

Another problem arose with the dress of the bride. In post-war Britain with tissues was tight, they even gave out on cards. And then many country girls started sending his future bride stamps tissue. But, unfortunately, under the law to use someone else's card was not. Therefore, Elizabeth used her, the more she Parliament allocated an additional 200 coupons.

But then rumors spread that the silk from which sewed the dress was woven from the cocoons of silkworms Japanese enemy. But the scandal was hushed up when it turned out that the worms were friendly Chinese.

Well what a wedding can do without the traditional wedding cake? For its preparation required a huge amount of sugar, butter, flour, dried fruit, candied fruit and alcohol, to which these fruits should be impregnated. But while all of these products have been in short supply in the country. And the ingredients had to be collected in the truest sense of the world.

Canada sent flour, Jamaica - Rum, New Zealand - oil. But especially I tried to Australia. Girls from scout groups collected donations and sent to London a few hefty parcel with glazed fruit, dried fruit, sugar and other vital products for the cake.

A replica of the Queen's wedding bouquet made for the anniversary exhibition.

Though the wedding was a royal, not small and not very incidents there has not been. First of tiara fell off a piece, and it had to urgently send to a jeweler. Then someone somewhere put the pearl necklace, which is then searched for a long time. But most importantly - the mystery of the bridal bouquet. On the photo shared with friends and relatives of the bride holding a bouquet there, although he was at the entrance and exit of the abbey. It is believed that bunch somewhere to put one of the servants, and then forgot where. A week after the triumph of the newlyweds made a bouquet to take pictures with him, but once again the guests did not happen. Therefore, the Royals now have any photos with family and friends, or with a bouquet.

The newlyweds received more than 2,500 gifts. For the first time the royal family refused an unwritten rule that gifts can only give friends and relatives. There were strange gifts. For example, India sent a lace scarf, crocheted from yarn personally spun by Mahatma Gandhi. In the center were carefully vyvyazany words: "Freedom for India."

tiara, a gift from her grandmother.

Still newlyweds presented: gold necklace with jade, which sent the Egyptian King Farouk, a desk from the Government of New Zealand, table set of china with the characters, which means "double happiness", by President Chiang Kai-shek and a couple of antique cups of chocolate from the Pope Pius XII. The bride gave a lot of jewelry. The Queen presented a set of castors, the Queen Mother - the bookshelf, and the bride's sister Princess Margaret - a special picnic basket.

During the wedding ceremony, Elizabeth insisted, to say the traditional oath, promising to obey her husband. This caused considerable surprise, because everyone knew that when the princess becomes a queen, with the "obedience" would be a big problem.

The coronation of Elizabeth II.

The Duke of Edinburgh and is the husband of the monarch was not a crowned or anointed at the coronation ceremony. He was the first aristocrat, publicly brought the oath of allegiance to his wife: "I, Prince Philip, I am your faithful vassal of the body and soul, and deeds and thoughts. And verily and truly I swear that he is ready to live and die for you. And so help me God. "

To mark The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's 70th Wedding Anniversary, new photographic portraits have been released worldwide. pic.twitter.com/Jl6elndhFe

- The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 18, 2017

Already 70 years have passed since this remarkable date. By this solemn event Buckingham Palace introduced a new portrait of the royal couple. It queen dressed in a cream-colored dress, to which is attached a golden brooch with precious stones donated by Prince Philip about 50 years ago. A series of images made by renowned photographer Matt Holyoke, who specializes in portrait work and photographs of many famous actors, musicians and athletes.