November 20: On This Day in World History … briefly
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married at 11.30 GMT on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. Princess Elizabeth became the tenth member of the Royal Family to be married at the Abbey.
1947: Pomp and splendour in the rain
Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the British throne, married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten amid scenes of pomp and splendour not seen since before the war.
Undeterred by the rain, the crowds slept overnight in the streets to secure the best view, and were standing 50-deep in the Mall and Whitehall to cheer the King and his daughter on their way to Westminster Abbey.
The princess’s ivory dress, covered with flowers of beads and pearls, and her tulle veil with a circlet of diamonds, were designed by Norman Hartnell.
Her new husband, who was also her cousin, was created Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by the King at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Most notable historic snippets or facts extracted from the book ‘On This Day’ first published in 1992 by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, as well as additional supplementary information extracted from Wikipedia.
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