Stamps commemorate the 70th Wedding Anniversary of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh

Stamps to commemorate the 70th wedding anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness, Duke of Edinburgh, have been issued by Guernsey Post. 

The celebration falls on 20 November and will mark the platinum wedding anniversary of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness - a milestone not reached by any other British monarch.

Before she became Queen, Princess Elizabeth first met Prince Philip in 1934 when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece to The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle of Princess Elizabeth.  Their engagement was announced on 9 July 1947 when Elizabeth had turned 21 and the couple were married in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. 

In 1948 their first child, Prince Charles, heir apparent to the throne, was born, and his sister, Princess Anne, two years later.

Whilst the early years of their marriage was relatively normal, The Queen's accession to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI, changed everything for the young couple as she became Queen aged just 25. 

Their third child, Prince Andrew, arrived in 1960 and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were the first children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her family. 

The stamps, which depict images that capture key elements of their life together over the decades, include The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace on 12th June 1965 following Trooping of the Colour; relaxing at home at Her Majesty’s residence, Balmoral Castle, in September 1976; and waving to well wishers who have gathered to celebrate the occasion of Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday in Windsor on 21 April 2016.

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post said: - “During their 70 years of marriage, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness have travelled all over the world together. Their commitment to duty and service has never faltered and we are really delighted to celebrate this wonderful occasion with our commemorative stamps.”