Prince William and Kate’s three children made the touching card for their great-grandparents as the queen and Prince Philip mark 73 years of marriage.
The monarch, 94, and her husband were photographed reading it and other letters in Windsor Castle this week.
A picture released by Buckingham Palace shows the 99-year-old prince holding the homemade card, which has a colorful “73” on the front.
The walls of Windsor Castle are visible through the window behind them as they sit on a sofa studying the children’s message.
The queen and Philip married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947—after Elizabeth paid for her wedding dress using post-World War II clothing rations.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said of the photo: “Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are seen looking at an anniversary card made by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, alongside other cards and letters sent by well-wishers.” It was taken “in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle earlier this week.”
Elizabeth and Philip married 13 years after they met for the first time. He proposed with a three-carat diamond ring using stones that were originally part of a tiara belonging to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg.
Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, was one of her eight bridesmaids, who wore glamorous tiaras and gowns.
The queen’s dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, but paying for it was a little challenging in post-war Britain.
The royal family’s website states: “The dress has a simple cut with fitted bodice, heart-shaped neckline with a low V-pointed waist and a floor-length panelled skirt.
“Due to rationing measures in place following World War II, Princess Elizabeth had to use clothing ration coupons to pay for her dress. Hundreds of people from across the UK sent the princess their coupons to help with the dress, although they had to be returned as it would be illegal to use them.
“The dress has a 15-foot silk tulle full court train, which was attached at the shoulders, is embroidered in pearl, crystal and transparent appliqué tulle embroidery.”
The wedding had 2,000 guests and was broadcast to 200 million people on TV and radio. The reception was at Buckingham Palace where they had a meal and a 9ft wedding cake in four tiers.
Elizabeth gave one of her most famous descriptions of her husband in a speech to mark their golden wedding anniversary in November 1997, a few months after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a Paris car crash.
During a lunch at Banqueting House in London, she said: “All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking.
“Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner.
“He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but 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.”
