Every wedding has its thrilling moments, but the pressure is multiplied when the bride is the heir to the British throne and the wedding is broadcast around the world .
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten were officially married at Westminster Abbey, watched by millions. That grand ceremony has become one of the most memorable royal weddings in modern history.
But behind the perfect public image is a series of heart-stopping incidents.
Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, with her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Photo: Agency).
Crown broke right before wedding
While getting ready at Buckingham Palace, Princess Elizabeth discovered that the tiara she had chosen, Queen Mary's Russian Fringe tiara, had suddenly broken.
It was an incident that could have turned everything upside down, but luckily the British royal jeweler was escorted by police car to the workshop and managed to repair the precious piece in record time, so that the bride could appear on time for the wedding ceremony.
The Lost Earrings
Not only that, that morning Princess Elizabeth also discovered that she had forgotten her pearl earrings, a meaningful gift that King George VI had given to his daughter before her wedding day.
They were left at St. James's Palace, and once again the Princess's private secretary had to rush to retrieve them, just in time for the official photo shoot.
The wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip took place on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey.
Post-war economic hardship and the wedding dress
Elizabeth’s wedding took place just two years after World War II, at a time when Britain was still reeling from the effects of austerity. In that context, whether the princess could afford to have a luxurious wedding dress made was also a question of public interest.
Hundreds of people across Britain sent clothing stamps, a form of food and goods rationing at that time, to the British Royal Family as a sincere offer of help.
Although touched, the British Royal Family was forced to return the coupons because Princess Elizabeth was not allowed to use other people's coupons by law. In the end, the British Government gave her an additional 200 coupons to order a wedding dress designed by Designer Norman Hartnell.
Wedding bouquet "evaporates" in the decisive moment
Princess Elizabeth lost her wedding bouquet before the group photo (Photo: Agency).
When everything seemed to be going smoothly, when it was time to take group photos, everyone discovered... the bride was not holding her wedding bouquet. This seemingly small detail caused Princess Elizabeth to appear with empty hands in the official photos.
Later, royal florist David Longman revealed that the bouquet had been lost in transit. To make amends, Elizabeth and Philip wore their wedding clothes again on their honeymoon and took pictures with the new bouquet.
The marriage lasted 74 years
Despite the behind-the-scenes hiccups, the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip was seen as a symbol of hope and rebirth in the post-war era.
Their marriage lasted 74 years, becoming a rare model of solidarity and steadfastness in modern-day royalty.
The couple had an admirably happy life until Prince Philip passed away on April 9, 2021 at the age of 99. And more than a year later, on September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II followed him.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/su-co-hu-via-tung-suyt-pha-hong-dam-cuoi-cua-nu-hoang-anh-elizabeth-ii-20250610003144053.htm
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