Before the late Queen Elizabeth II chose Prince Philip as her lifelong partner, her mother had another suitor in mind. According to royal historian Hugo Vickers, Hugh, Earl of Euston, who later became the 11th Duke of Grafton, was once considered a potential match for the young princess. Vickers, author of “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” shared insights from his research, revealing that the Queen Mother was keen on her daughter marrying a Grenadier Guard, a prestigious British regiment.
The Queen Mother’s Preference
Vickers explained that during World War II, Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, were contained in Windsor Castle, surrounded by Grenadier Guards. The Queen Mother hoped to place these guards on Elizabeth’s path, particularly favoring Lord Euston. However, despite these efforts, Elizabeth’s heart was set on Philip, whom she met when she was just 13 years old.
Lord Mountbatten’s Role
Lord Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle, played a crucial role in paving the way for Philip by securing a prestigious position for Earl Euston in India, effectively removing him from the picture. This move, coupled with the royal family’s perception of Euston as too passive, led to the decline of his potential match with Elizabeth.
A Love That Endured
Despite initial reservations from her parents, Elizabeth remained steadfast in her affection for Philip. Their relationship blossomed through letters and occasional meetings during Philip’s service in the Royal Navy. Eventually, Elizabeth convinced her father, King George VI, to allow her to marry Philip after a royal tour of South Africa. Their engagement was announced in July 1947, and they married on November 20, 1947.
Philip, who had a distinguished naval career, was seen as a modernizer, bringing fresh ideas to the royal family. His marriage to Elizabeth was based on genuine love and mutual appreciation, a rarity in royal unions at the time. Philip supported Elizabeth throughout her reign, fulfilling over 20,000 royal engagements before his passing in 2021.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
