The Queen and Prince Philip have very rarely directly addressed the media in their 71 years of marriage so far. However, in more recent weeks, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been under scrutiny for how they have handled their interactions with the press. Many royal watchers have drawn comparison s with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent emotional ITV interview, and the perceived “Never complain, never explain” stance of the Queen. 

Expert Camilla Tominey, writing in the Telegraph this week, commented: ““In insisting he will protect his family at all costs, backed up by Meghan saying she will not adopt the ‘British stiff upper lip’, the Sussexes appear to be saying something deeper about their ongoing role in the Royal Family. 

“They are no longer willing to put up and shut up – which could prove problematic for a family that has traditionally kept calm and carried on.” 

However, the Queen herself did in fact issue a press statement, in 1957, that directly addressed royal rift rumours that were swirling at the time. 

Royal historian Hugo Vickers, in his 2017 book “The Crown: Truth and Fiction”, delves into the furore which featured in the last series of the Netflix show. 

The hit series shows how, on the Duke of Edinburgh’s 1956-7 voyage to Australia and around the South Pacific, his aide Mike Parker was forced to resign after his wife initiated a separation. 

In the court circles of the time, a separated, soon to be divorced, courtier was deemed unacceptable. 

However the shock news led to fevered speculation that Her Majesty and Prince Philip’s own marriage was under strain. 

Mr Vickers writes: “An announcement was was given to the press a week after Parker’s resignation. 

It stated: “It is quite untrue that there is any rift between the Queen and the Duke.” 

READ MORE: Prince Philip: The Crown debunked as affair rumours branded impossible

Mr Vickers also notes : “Their marriage has now lasted over 70 years.” 

Press reports from the time indicate how seriously the scandal was taken, in an era that tended to avoid any criticism of the Royal Family. 

The Associated Press reported in 1957: “Parker resigned as the Prince’s private secretary last February 4, just 24 hours after word leaked out that he and his wife had separated. 

“His resignation rocked Palace court circles. 

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“Parker was aboard the royal yacht Britannia with the Queen’s husband when Parker’s lawyer announced his resignation.” 

The report continued: “Parker’s marital troubles set off rumours early this year of a rift between Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.  

“Buckingham Palace denied the rumours. 

“A leading British newspaper said early this week Buckingham Palace officials were worried about ‘detailed evidence’ that might emerge in a Parker divorce case.” 

Despite the scandal around the resignation, Mr Parker’s ex-wife always maintained that the Queen and Prince Philip did not in fact want him to resign. 

In her 1982 book “Step Aside for Royalty”, Eileen Parker wrote: “I learned that both Prince Philip and the Queen had tried to dissuade Mike from resigning.” 

Mr Vickers adds: “According to her book, she did not intend [the separation] to become public knowledge while her husband was at sea with Prince Philip. 

“Her lawyer, Meryn Lewis, put out a statement without consulting her – he gave a scoop to Rex North of the Sunday Pictorial.” 

A direct statement from the Queen on private matters has never happened again, although Her Majesty has sued to prevent further reports from the “undercover butler” Ryan Parry from going to press in 2003. 

In 2002, the Duke of Edinburgh released a very rare press statement, in regard to his correspondence with the late Princess Diana. 

In it, the Prince refuted reports that his letters to his daughter-in-law, which had been discussed in the trial of ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, had been “curt or unfeeling” in any way. 

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