Queen Elizabeth II might have had a completely different life if the Queen Mother had her way. The late monarch married Prince Philip in 1947, but their union was not without controversy. At the time, the Duke of Edinburgh was foreign-born, lacked financial stability, and had ties to German aristocracy.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams revealed on Fox News that the Queen Mother may have preferred an English aristocrat over Philip. Historian Hugo Vickers also shared insights with the outlet, stating that the Queen Mother was keen for her daughter to marry a Grenadier Guard. “The Grenadier Guards are the most prestigious of all the British regiments. If you’re a Grenadier Guard, you are the top,” he explained.
During World War II, Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret were kept confined within Windsor Castle. Vickers noted that there were many Grenadier Guards stationed around the castle. “Princess Margaret used to say that the whole of the castle was surrounded by barbed wire, which wouldn’t have kept the Germans out, but certainly kept them in.”
Vickers mentioned that Hugh FitzRoy, 11th Duke of Grafton, was considered a strong contender for the queen’s affection before Philip entered the picture. “With all of these Grenadier Guards around the place, the queen mother was very much hoping — she placed a number of Grenadier Guards, as it were, on Princess Elizabeth’s path. She would have loved her to marry [FitzRoy]. I think it was slightly in the cards at one point, and that could have happened.”
However, Lord Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle, played a key role in removing FitzRoy from the equation. According to Vickers, Mountbatten arranged for FitzRoy to take up a position as Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India, effectively getting him out of the way.
Philip and Queen Elizabeth first met at Britannia Royal Naval College in 1939 when he was an 18-year-old cadet and she was just a 13-year-old princess. They exchanged letters over the years and eventually married after World War II ended. Philip, who was born in Greece, became the consort of the queen once she ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI.
Vickers reflected on the marriage, saying, “I think it was a much better choice that Queen Elizabeth married Prince Philip. Prince Philip was a breath of fresh air. He had a very good naval career during the war. He was bursting with ideas.”
“They feared he would be a modernizer. They were absolutely right,” he added.
The relationship between the Queen and Prince Philip was not without its challenges, but it ultimately shaped the course of British history. Their union brought a new energy to the monarchy, and Philip played a significant role in modernizing the royal family’s public image.
While the Queen Mother had her preferences, the path that Queen Elizabeth ultimately took led to a lasting legacy. The story of how Philip came into the picture highlights the complex dynamics within the royal family and the influence of key figures like Lord Mountbatten.
