THERE were plenty of touching moments during the Queen’s 73-year marriage to Prince Philip, but this one picture has struck a chord in people’s minds.
The giggling snap is from an event at Windsor Castle in 2003, and shows the Duke of Edinburgh dressed as a grenadier guard.
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It has been widely shared since Philip’s death on Friday, at the age of 99.
Many claimed the Queen, now 94, was laughing because he played a “prank” on her by dressing up in the red uniform and bearskin hat, but that’s not actually the case.
The Duke of Edinburgh would have been colonel of the grenadier guards at the time, hence the uniform.
He did the role from 1975 until December 2017, when his son Prince Andrew took over.
So what’s the real reason for his wife’s cheeky grin?
Press Association’s Chris Young was the only photographer present at the review of the Grenadier Guard’s elite Queen’s company regiment, where the picture was taken, and he’s set the record straight.
Chris told the BBC how a swarm of bees derailed the event, meaning a Royal beekeeper had to be summoned to move them away.
He said: “Some of the guests were unsure as to whether they should move, but eventually everyone had to beat a retreat.
“I recognised that it was a human moment. She was giggling like a little girl and he was laughing too.”
Although the Queen and Prince Philip have been pictured countless times during her reign, they’re true professionals, making this touching moment quite “unique” in Chris’ mind.
In her tribute to her husband this week, the Queen described Philip as her “strength and stay” throughout her reign.
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” she said.
