The Queen had little interest in boys during her teenage years – but she immediately hit it off with Prince Philip when they met, according to Ingrid Seward. The royal expert, author of the biography My Husband and I, described how the Queen was left impressed by the good looks and athletic abilities of the then-Prince Philip of Greece. The royal author wrote: “No real attempt was made to put her more at ease with young men. 

“Despite all that, there was one boy Elizabeth did notice, however.

“He was tall and blond, with ‘Viking’ good looks.

“His name was Prince Philip of Greece, and she was dazzled by him from the first moment she saw him.

“They were married eight years later, and he was the only man she had ever known.” 

The future monarch met Philip during a visit at Dartmouth Britannia Royal Naval College in July 1939, where he was training as cadet at the time.

During the engagement, undertaken with Princess Margaret, King George VI and the Queen Mother, the Queen and Philip had the change to speak.

The visit took place during an outbreak of mumps and chickenpox, which forced the Royal Family to change their plan and visit the headmaster’s house rather than going to a service at the chapel.

There, Elizabeth and the future Duke of Edinburgh met, with Philip being one of the few cadets not suffering from the illnesses sweeping the college. The young prince suggested they went to Dartmouth to play tennis.

There, the Duke showed off his physical skills impressing the Queen, according to the then Princess Elizabeth’s nanny, Marion Crawford.

According to Ms Crawford, the Queen said: “How high he can jump!”

Philip also accompanied the royals on board of the King’s yacht for dinner, where Elizabeth was left “pink-faced” from laughing so much with Philip.

According to one of the Queen’s cousins, Margaret Rhodes, it was love at first sight for the Queen, as she said: “Elizabeth was truly in love from the beginning.”

Prince Philip, on the other hand, is believed not to have initially reciprocated feelings for the Queen.  

However, the pair started writing regularly to each other during World War II, when Philip was serving in the Navy.

The couple met again at Windsor Castle while the princess was performing in a pantomime of Aladdin.

After that moment, Philip is believed to have started carrying a photo of Elizabeth with him.

The couple got engaged in 1946, and married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. 

One year later, the Queen gave birth to her firstborn and heir apparent, Prince Charles.

Prince Philip and the Queen were meant to reunite after having spent months apart yesterday.

But the Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to King Edward VII hospital in London, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, while the monarch has travelled to Sandringham to start her winter break, which will last until February 6.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.

“The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’s doctor.”    

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