On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey.
Over 200 million people listened on the radio as they became husband and wife. This marriage, which lasted 73 years, became the longest in the history of the British royal family.
In August 2017, after decades of living together, Prince Philip chose to live apart from the Queen for the first time. He wasn’t angry or upset; instead, it was about his own wishes and royal traditions.​
Seven Decades
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip marked their 70th wedding anniversary in November 2017.
Philip supported the Queen through many public events, travels, and family changes. They had four children together and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Queen spoke of Philip as her “strength and stay.” Even after facing scandals and demanding work, their marriage remained strong; it therefore came as a surprise to people when they eventually chose to live apart.​
Service Record
Prince Philip worked hard as a royal. From 1952 to his retirement in 2017, he carried out over 22,000 solo public appearances—not including those with the Queen.
He went overseas almost 640 times, gave about 5,500 speeches, and was part of nearly 800 groups, including his Duke of Edinburgh Award and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
After over 70 years of active service, he retired with the Queen’s support.​
Unexpected Decision
On May 4, 2017, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Philip would retire from royal duties, effective August 2017.
The Queen was completely behind this decision. Philip’s choice was personal, not due to sickness.
After a long record of service, he attended his last solo event in the rain, joking even then.
What no one knew was that retirement would mean he and the Queen would spend time living separately for the first time.​
The Separation
After retiring, Prince Philip moved to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate, far from Buckingham Palace, where the Queen kept working.
This meant for the first time in their 70-year marriage, they would spend weeks apart.
The Queen continued her duties in London, while Philip settled into a quieter country life. People close to the couple understood this was a sign of mutual understanding, not any fight.​
Geographic Distance
Wood Farm is about 112 miles from Buckingham Palace, tucked away by the sea in Norfolk.
The cottage is simple, near stables and fields, away from busy London life. The Queen still worked in London during the week, and at Windsor Castle on weekends.
With so much distance between them and with busy schedules, seeing each other in person was much less frequent than before.​
Royal Understanding
The Queen respected Philip’s desire for more private, peaceful days after so much service.
According to biographers, she understood he didn’t want to be fussed over or drawn back into daily royal life.
After being “on duty” for so long, he had earned the chance to relax in his own way.​
Farm Life
At Wood Farm, Philip enjoyed quiet hobbies he hadn’t had time for before—such as painting, reading (mostly history), and writing letters.
He renovated the cottage himself, adding his own art, and took great pleasure in hosting friends.
There were no staff in uniforms. Everything was much more relaxed compared to royal palaces, and Philip liked the simpler routine.​
Setting Precedent
No British royal had retired and chosen this kind of separate living before.
Other royal couples used different houses, but this was a true retreat for Philip’s own comfort.
The arrangement showed that even the Queen and Prince could find happiness living apart sometimes—the most crucial thing was respect and personal freedom in a marriage.​
Class Tradition
Among the British upper class, it’s normal for married couples to have their own bedrooms—even their own homes sometimes.
Lady Pamela Hicks, Philip’s cousin, said that in her family, couples often sleep apart but join each other when they want to.
So, for aristocrats, Philip and the Queen’s setup wasn’t seen as odd—it was simply more public than usual.​
Staying Connected
Despite being in different places, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh maintained close contact through phone calls.
The Queen visited Philip often, especially during holidays at Sandringham. At Wood Farm, the Queen helped with simple tasks like washing up—rare for a monarch!
The important thing is they still found time to be together, even with the distance between their main homes.​
Royal Support
The Queen always supported Philip’s retirement and move.
Friends and royal insiders often said she wanted him to be happy and comfortable after serving for so many years.
She knew that if he stayed in London, he might feel duty-bound to keep working when he deserved to rest and have some quiet.​
Personal Choice
When the palace announced Philip’s retirement, everyone made clear it was his choice.
He wasn’t forced or made to leave because of health or rule changes—he wanted to enjoy his last years as he wished.
Even after, he kept his classic sense of humor, joking with guests and showing that stepping back was his own decision.​
Earned Rest
At age 95, Philip still completed over 200 events in a year.
He had left a naval career and worked for the royal family for decades.
Newspapers and royal writers agreed he had “done his bit” and deserved time to rest and do as he pleased in retirement.​
COVID Reunion
In March 2020, during the pandemic, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh reunited at Windsor Castle after being apart for weeks.
Philip came from Norfolk to join her, and they spent lockdown together.
Family and writers alike said it was beneficial for them to have this time together in the same home after so many years of following different routines and schedules.​
Final Year
Their time together during the COVID lockdown turned out to be a blessing.
Friends said the Queen and Philip got used to new routines, taking walks and eating dinner together each night.
They celebrated their 73rd anniversary together, and he passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle in 2021, with the Queen by his side.​
Marriage Redefined
Living apart for some weeks didn’t damage their relationship.
The Queen and Philip’s understanding and respect for each other’s wishes became a symbol of lasting love.
Unlike some of their children’s marriages, theirs lasted because they allowed for personal space and adapted as they grew older—a valuable lesson about the importance of flexibility in any long-term relationship.​
Public Reaction
When the public learned the couple lived apart, some were surprised and worried it meant problems.
However, experts explained that this wasn’t the case, and soon people understood it was about practical needs and Philip’s desire for peace and quiet.
In fact, the couple remained close in their own way, and the public discussion prompted many to reflect on the balance of space and independence in marriage.​
Historical Context
Royal couples often lived partly separate lives in big houses, for practical reasons as much as anything else.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as well as later King Edward VII, had their own retreats and bedrooms.
What made this modern is that Philip was the first to choose it for retirement comfort, not just following royal rules. It set a new example for future royals.​
Lasting Love
Prince Philip living at Wood Farm while the Queen stayed in London wasn’t a sign of trouble—it was proof of their strong marriage.
Their love lasted 73 years because they gave each other respect and freedom.
After a lifetime of public service and togetherness, they still found happiness—sometimes together, sometimes apart—until they shared their final year side by side.​