Recently, I saw a story on the news about the “oldest living married couple” ever and how they made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. John and Charlotte Henderson have been married 80 years. He’s 106 and she’s 105. What was remarkable about the segment I saw was that they asked this couple what their secret was and John answered, quite reasonably, that they never had children. I was like “damn, maybe that IS the answer.” That’s the secret answer to getting a marriage to work and it’s the secret to longevity. Anyway, I thought of the Hendersons because today is the Queen’s wedding anniversary with the Duke of Edinburgh. They’ve been married 72 years and they’ve raised four children, at least one of whom is a rapist/pervert/dullard. To celebrate, Liz and Phil didn’t even spend the day together. LOL. Maybe that is also the secret to a long-lasting marriage: distance.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have lived a lifetime of milestones. Jubilees marking the anniversary of the Coronation, the Queen’s longest reign, a platinum wedding anniversary are just some. So, as their 72nd anniversary passed on Wednesday, they are likely to be the last to complain that they were spending the day apart.
Philip, 98, is at Sandringham, Norfolk, about 110 miles from London where the Queen is based as part of her working week. The monarch has duties in London, and Philip, who retired from royal duty in August 2017, has been resting at the estate’s Wood Farm. There, renovations were undertaken several years ago to make it easier to live in for a man of his age. The Queen, 93, spent some of Wednesday holding audiences with the ambassadors of the Republic of Suriname and the Kyrgyz Republic.
But some observers have been saying that she would have welcomed the support of her husband in this trying week since second son Prince Andrew appeared on the BBC and spoke openly — and without regret — about his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The financier died by suicide in jail in New York City in August while awaiting trial on multiple sex charges.
“I’m sure it’s been good for his health not to be there getting involved in the day-to-day stresses and strains but I think the Queen has missed his hands-on approach to family matters,” a source told the Daily Express on Wednesday. “He might have been a much stronger voice advising Andrew if he had been around more.”
While we’ve always heard that Andrew is the Queen’s favorite child, I think it’s also been established that Philip’s favorite child was always Anne, and he really never had much time for his sons. But yes, Philip would have had some sh-t to say about ALL of Andrew’s drama. The thing is, I don’t even think Philip cares that much anymore. And so while it is a little bit funny that the Queen and Duke are spending their 72nd anniversary apart, it’s also kind of sad that the Queen is so… unsupported, in general. She’s making some terrible decisions. Maybe she would still be making terrible decisions if Philip was there, but maybe not.
Wishing Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh a very happy 72nd Wedding Anniversary! pic.twitter.com/gqRmvSepkF
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 20, 2019
Happy 72nd Wedding Anniversary to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, who were married on this day in Westminster Abbey. #HappyAnniversary pic.twitter.com/5zECFPmOqj
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 20, 2019
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.
I think that Andrew has taken advantage of Prince Phillip’s absence to not only benefit himself but to bring his partner in crime, Fergie, back into the fold. Prince Phillip would have had Andrew’s ass in Switzerland with a quickness.
I read somewhere that the Duke of Edinburgh has become close to Edward and Sophie Wessex in the last 5-10 years.
Elizabeth and Phillip are both assholes. That’s the secret to their marriage.
I’ve always thought that Phil and Brenda sit around and watch Benny Hill.
Agree !
The Queen was taught how to be a Queen but not a parent.
I read that Phillip had a “wobble” recently and is being watched by doctors. Apparently the Queen doesn’t want to worry him with all the Andrew shit.
The Queen and Philip have led separate lives for many years, when they both were living at BP they hardly saw each other. The Queen was visibly happier when Philip retired and he wasn’t dragging around behind her. Over many years he has treated the Queen appalling and his present lady friend visits him frequently at Wood Farm
@princessk I ask you because I think you know more than me, but does anyone know what’s going on with Phillip? I know he’s very elderly- but does anyone know his actual health issues? For example, my grandma is 95- she is going blind and deaf. Her sight seems to be the most trouble for her health wise. But her heart is strong, no cancer, etc. does anyone know what debilitated Phillip? It always seems like he’s ill, but I have no idea with what or how Ill.
@PrincessK, his “current lady friend”? LOLOLOL Players gotta play I guess. I guess Phil isn’t ready to retire from EVERYTHING yet!
To celebrate their anniversary I will watch a James Cromwell film, because James is out here still being awesome and Philip is still garbage.
Thank you for reminding me about the existence and general awesomeness of James Cromwell.
I’ve seen a lot of comments on twitter about how Prince Phillip would have taken care of this mess before it started, or brought Andrew to heel now, and I’m not sure what people think he would have done. I guess at the very least he wouldn’t have let him do that interview, which would have been a big “something.”
Philip is one of the last people to tell others how to lead their lives. He has set a rotten example for his children. There is a rumour that he conducted a very long affair with the Queen’s cousin…how brutal is that?
Who also happens to be his cousin. Ah incest, obviously it produces the very best offspring.
@VaVa Kaboom
LOLOL!!! Thank you for that.
I agree, and I doubt he even thinks what Andrew did is a big deal. In his day, a 17 year old was not thought of as a child and he probably thinks a man of power should be able to do such a thing.
I agree as well.
Phillip was (at best) a smarmy philanderer, himself. Perhaps they’re keeping him out of it all, because he might think Andrew’s behaviour is not a big deal.
Like a lot of long-standing married couples who grow apart but can’t be bothered with the formalities of a divorce. Just live your independent life.
If not for their positions they would have divorced long ago. What the Queen had to put up with from Philip was really dreadful, he must have taken advantage of the fact that she was not in a position to do anything about his philandering. No wonder the Queen could not understand what Diana was complaining about compared to what she endured.
As soon as her kids were grown up the Queen happily put a distance between herself and Philip, she probably can’t even stand the sight of him even now. After all most elderly loving couples would have a lot in common and want to spend as much time as possible together.
If not for her position Philip would never have married her either though.
I can’t imagine being with the same partner for 72 years. What would that be like…?
Imagine having lots of properties with hundreds of rooms, plus servants, you can live easily for months without seeing each other.
my grandparents are celebrating 71 years of married in three weeks -they have become really close in their later years, it’s very sweet to witness.
Does the Queen not know how to operate a phone? One presumes that Philip might be able to offer support/advice/guidance from “110 miles away” in Norfolk with some of the many communication options the 21st century has to offer. Sadly I don’t think we can lay the Queen’s miss-steps at the door of Philip’s absence from London. I think it’s more likely she is following her time honoured tradition of being an ostrich and not tackling anything.
She doesn’t need to abdicate but she needs to hand over even more authority to Charles. At 93 this Andrew business must be too much for her.
Yes, agree. As well as making it easier on her in her 90s it would also ensure a smoother transfer when she does eventually die. Although, knowing that there’s no love lost between Charles and Andrew, she probably wouldn’t want to leave Randy Andy to Charles’ authority.
Courtiers now throwing Phillip under the bus. They are truly desperate.
Philip doesn’t want to be smothered with a pillow to distract from the Andrew story.
Don’t tempt them.
Wood Farm does sound like a cozy mystery murder village, doesn’t it? Almost too on the nose.
@CK. HAHAHAHA!! OMG. I’m slayed.
Phillip has been with that 66 year old woman for decades now. They have been seen out and out on horseback etc for years. I can’t recollect the woman’s name, does anyone remember? She is his best friend/maybe lover?
Penny Romsey. Mountbatten’s grand daughter-in-law, I think that’s who you are referring to.
Wow, I am almost 60 and there is no way in h@ll I would want a 93 year old boyfriend. I don’t care if he has a title or not. I would rather date the horse!
@MsIam….but do remember that they have been together for decades, Philip was probably in his 60s when it all started, probably not much action now, but you never know. As a couple they are very tight. Not too long ago after Philip retired he could not be bothered to attend the christening of one of William’s kids but became a godfather in his 90s to one of this woman’s grandchildren, which raised eyebrows.
The Queen has long accepted this arrangement and is not bothered, and the woman even attends Church with the Queen, at times when she is at Sandringham, because the woman often stays at Wood Farm.
Wow, these people discuss me.
What they be saying?
😂