Exact Wedding Date and Official Records
The queen married Prince Philip on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast by the BBC, and the official royal archives list the date, venue, and participants. The marriage license was issued under the Royal Marriages Act, and the event is documented in the Crown's public records and referenced by authoritative sources such as the official royal website and the UK Parliament's historical collections royal.uk.
The wedding took place just after World War II, and the bride wore a dress designed by Norman Hartnell, with material rationing coupons provided by the government. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of guests, and the event is recorded in the London Gazette, which publishes formal notices for the Crown. The official record confirms the date, the names of the witnesses, and the registration details thegazette.co.uk.
Marriage Timeline and Key Milestones
The engagement was announced in July 1947, and the couple exchanged vows later that year. Their marriage lasted more than 70 years until the prince's death in 2021. The queen and prince Philip had four children, and their wedding anniversary was marked publicly each year by the royal household. The timeline is consistent across the official royal biography and the Crown's published family records buckinghampalace.gov.uk.
The queen's coronation followed in 1953, and the marriage remained central to the monarchy's public calendar. The couple's joint appearances, tours, and charitable work are documented in the official royal schedule and annual reports. The timeline highlights the stability and continuity of the institution, with the marriage serving as a key reference point for the Crown's modern history parliament.uk.
Public Records and Financial Context
The marriage was a public event with significant financial and legal implications. The Crown Estate and the Privy Purse covered many costs, and the wedding gifts were recorded in the official royal inventory. The financial context is detailed in the annual accounts of the royal household, which are published and audited sipot.co.uk.
The queen's marriage also affected succession law and the line of succession, as documented in the Acts of Parliament governing the monarchy. The legal framework is maintained by the UK Parliament and the Crown Office, and any changes are published in the official gazette. The financial and legal records confirm the marriage's role in the continuity of the Crown and its public functions legislation.gov.uk.