Queen celebrates 68th wedding anniversary
The Queen celebrates 68 years of marriage to Prince Philip today - marking only two years to go until their Platinum wedding anniversary.
Here we take a look back at the royal couple over the years.
A then Princess Elizabeth secretly got engaged to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1946 after knowing each other for many years.
However, the engagement was not officially announced until 1947 when the royal family returned from South Africa.
The pair were married at Westminster Abbey 68 years ago today at 11.30am on 20 November 1947.
The Queen had eight bridesmaids including her younger sister Princess Margaret.
The marriage was officiated by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher and broadcast over the radio to 200 million around the world.
They couple later honeymooned in Broadlands in Hampshire, home of Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten.
In a letter written to her parents during her honeymoon, Elizabeth wrote that the pair “behave as though we had belonged to each other for years! Philip is an angel - he is so kind and thoughtful.”
The couple had their first child Prince Charles, now Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, in 1948. Two years later his sister Princess Anne was born.
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1952, making her the longest-reigning British monarch in September this year.
The couple went on to have two more children - Prince Andrew in 1960 and 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.
Throughout overseas visits, official events and family occasions, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have spent much of the last seven decades side-by-side.
The royal marriage has been largely private over the years, however Queen Elizabeth made a rare reference to their relationship in her Diamond Jubilee address in 2012.
"Prince Philip is, I believe, well known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide," she said.
The Queen is spending today alongside her husband visiting Birmingham after officially reopening Birmingham's New Street station yesterday.