Before Kate and William, before Harry and Meghan, there was Elizabeth and Philip.
The late Queen Elizabeth (then Princess) married Prince Philip on Nov. 20, 1947, just three months after they revealed their engagement. Their royal romance endured for the rest of their lives, until Philip’s death at age 99 on April 9, 2021. She died one year later, on Sept. 8, 2022.
“She fell in love at age 18 and she never looked at anyone else,” Sally Bedell Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen, told PEOPLE after Philip’s death.
The couple went on to welcome four children: Charles, born in 1948; Anne, born in 1950; Andrew, born in 1960 and Edward, born in 1964.
Nearly eight decades after their lavish festivities, take a look at photos from the very beginning of their 73-year commitment to each other.
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Here Comes the Bride
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Queen Elizabeth
The then-Princess Elizabeth beamed in her wedding dress, accessorized with a tiara and veil.
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Go Hand in Hand
Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
To officially join the British royal family, the prince renounced his Danish and Greek royal titles and became a member of the Church of England.
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Down the Aisle
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Lady Pamela Hicks, who served as a bridesmaid for the nuptials, later said of the pair, “I can think of very few couples as united as they are.”
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Training Season
Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
In addition to her silk wedding gown (a Norman Hartnell design, created from silk bought using ration coupons saved up by the bride) the future monarch had a lengthy train patterned with flowers following her.
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Getting Her Flowers
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Her wedding bouquet consisted of white orchids with the traditional sprig of myrtle.
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Look of Love
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
On their way to the altar, the couple exchanged looks of pure adoration.
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The Room Where It Happens
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
The ceremony, held at Westminster Abbey in London, hosted 2,500 guests.
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Family Photo
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with the royal family
The extensive royal family gathered for a group portrait to celebrate the couple’s union.
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Royal Greetings
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
They greeted the masses from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
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Ride Off into the Sunset
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Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth
After the nuptials, the newlyweds rode off in a carriage to their honeymoon at the Broadlands in Hampshire, England.
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