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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Emma Rosemurgey

Queen grew smitten with Prince Philip after he showed off his 'unusual skill'

It has been nearly a year since Prince Philip passed away, and during that time people all over the world have joined the royal family in mourning his loss.

The Queen and Prince Philip were married for 73 years after tying the knot on November 20, 1947, at London's Westminster Abbey - but how did their romance begin?

They officially began courting when the Queen was 17 and Philip was 22, but the pair actually met several years earlier.

Then-Princess Elizabeth first met Philip when she was just 13, during a family trip to Dartmouth Britannia Royal Naval College, where Philip was training.

They were married for 73 years (AFP/Getty Images)

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On that particular day, the college was suffering from a nasty outbreak of mumps and chickenpox, and as he was one of the few cadets who hadn't taken ill, Philip was invited to meet her, along with father King George VI, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

According to the Queen's former governess Marion Crawford, Philip suggested they go down to the tennis courts, where he showed off by jumping over the nets.

In her book The Little Princesses, Marion claims the Queen was particularly taken by him and said: "How high he can jump!"

Later that evening Philip was invited to join the family for dinner on the King's yacht. During that time, the Queen was said to be left "pink-faced" as she laughed at Philip's jokes, something that people around them picked up on immediately.

Philip's uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten described it as a "great success" and others said the Queen was "truly in love."

The Queen and Prince Philip wed in front of 2,000 guests, as 200 million people watched on at home as it was broadcast live on BBC.

The Queen wore a beautiful dress by Sir Norman Hartnell featuring crystals and 100,000 seed pearls, made up of material bought on clothing ration coupons as Britain was still using the system after the war.

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