With the recent release of the third season of The Crown, we can't help but look back at seasons one and two to examine those integral parts in Queen Elizabeth II's life. After becoming queen at the age of 25—and no father (former king) to guide her—she had to confront matters of state as they came. While she may have looked calm, cool, and collected to the public, behind closed doors her relationship with her bored husband was exploding.
Now, it's been said that The Crown follows real acts in history but they are dramatized for the show. And with season one and two focusing a great deal on the queen and prince's marriage, fans can't help but wonder if their marriage was as heartbreaking as The Crown made it seem at moments. Let's take a look at 10 quotes between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip that made us feel gutted.
'LOOK, I’M STRONG. YOU KNOW THAT. AND I CAN COPE WITH THE TRUTH. I JUST DEMAND TO KNOW THE TRUTH. IT'S WHEN PEOPLE DON'T TELL ME THE TRUTH THAT I CAN'T BEAR IT'
The episode "Mystery Man" was hands down the most heartbreaking episode of season two. It was the season finale and wrapped up the queen's accusations, fears, and questions she had for her husband. Due to Elizabeth's silence and running away to Scotland to hide out, it's believed it startled Philip.
In an attempt to get Philip talking about his whereabouts and his connection with Stephen Ward, she said this harrowing sentiment that made viewers weak.
'THAT'S THE THING ABOUT UNHAPPINESS. ALL IT TAKES IS FOR SOMETHING WORSE TO COME ALONG AND YOU REALIZE IT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPINESS AFTER ALL'
In "Dear Mrs. Kennedy," we see Queen Elizabeth II's attempt at getting to know the First Lady. She's both excited and anxious but can't help but compare the two of them. The queen believed their first meeting went well. The two of them agreed the spotlight wasn't for them but they had a duty to fulfill.
Later in the episode, we learn that Jackie's marriage to John F. Kennedy wasn't as pure as it seemed either and that she was quite unhappy. But on the day that John was assassinated, Elizabeth saw the pain on Jackie's face and knew that her unhappiness then was actually happiness in comparison to the fate of her husband. Ironically, her quote about Jackie and JFK mirrors her relationship with Philip as we see her cuddling him at the end of the episode.
'AM I TO BE THE ONLY MAN IN THE COUNTRY WHOSE WIFE AND CHILDREN DON'T TAKE HIS NAME?
In the episode "Windsor," Elizabeth was on board with taking her husband's last name Mountbatten but after talking it over with cabinet, it appears she didn't really have a choice in the matter. She and her kids would have the last name of Windsor.
When Elizabeth first became queen, Philip made a few demands that he needed in order to be happy. And one of those demands was his last name. He was anguished over Elizabeth taking the last name Windsor but their children eventually became Mountbatten-Windsor.
'TO EVERYONE'S REGRET AND FRUSTRATION, THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE EVER LOVED IS YOU'
It's clear that the queen and prince had some trust issues in their marriage. Elizabeth kept hearing rumbles and rumors about her husband, along with finding a picture of Galina Ulanova in Philip's travel bag. For Elizabeth, The Crown made her out to be very loyal and dedicated to her husband.
However, she was very close to a childhood friend, Porchey. Due to their similar interest in horses, it's clear Philip was jealous of their bond and decided to poke fun at it. It's then that Elizabeth said these distressing words that prove how incredibly devoted she is to her husband. Regardless of his actions.
'WHAT KIND OF MARRIAGE IS THIS? WHAT KIND OF FAMILY? YOU'VE TAKEN MY CAREER FROM ME, YOU'VE TAKEN MY HOME. YOU'VE TAKEN MY NAME. I THOUGHT WE WERE IN THIS TOGETHER'
When Philip finds out that Elizabeth won't be taking his last name, he goes on a rant about having no say in his marriage or family. He's emasculated and embarrassed. Back in this time, a woman and her children were to take the man of the household's last name but circumstances change when you're the Queen of England.
Philip comes from a bruised ego and viewers can understand why he's upset, but it's one of those obvious things that he should have realized when he married into the royal family.
'LOOK, I REALIZE THAT THIS MARRIAGE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE BOTH IMAGINED'
After Philip's five-month tour at sea, he's finally reacquainted with his wife after a scandal breaks out about his fidelity during his time away. Instead of a cheery, hopeful greeting, these two are met with cold eyes and dispair.
They step away to talk about their marriage and how something like this could never happen again. It's here that we see them talk about divorce for the first time and how it was out of the question. The two had to fight it out, learn, and grow in order to move on.
'THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE ARE JUST AN OVERTURE. THAT THERE'S OFTEN A CRISIS AT 10 YEARS, BUT THEN YOU WORK IT OUT AND SETTLE IN AND IT'S ONLY THEN THAT IT REALLY GETS INTO STRIDE'
After going through the wringer with Prince Philip's possible infidelity at sea, the queen and prince are celebrating their 10 year anniversary as husband and wife. Looking back on their 10 years together, Elizabeth tries to convince herself that there is a deeper connection between the two that she can't explain.
And that while there's always going to be a crisis every 10 years, you work it out and move forward.
'SEPARATE COUNTRIES. HOW APPROPRIATE'
Towards the end of the second season, tensions between Elizabeth and Philip were high. And as usual, the two of them never say anything. They make sly remarks and carry on their way. However, at this particular moment, it was Elizabeth's words that seemed to stop Philip in his tracks.
Elizabeth was heading off to Balmoral for some time to herself and Philip was dashing off to the next hot spot to cure his boredom. Her response of "two countries, how appropriate" was in reference to Philip's mysterious life. At that time in their relationship, she really didn't know a thing about her husband.
'ALRIGHT. WHO GOES FIRST? STUPID QUESTION — IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IN THIS MARRIAGE IT'S THAT I GO SECOND'
In the episode "Lisbon," Elizabeth and Philip are fighting it out in an honest fashion. This is one of the more honest moments that we've seen on camera. When Elizabeth suggests they both take turns getting everything out on the table, Philip complains that she may as well go first because he always comes second.
Elizabeth is annoyed by his constant complaining but to Philip, he's hurt that he has no say in his marriage or life, for that matter.
'BUT IS IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT AMONG ALL THOSE PROBLEMS AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING YOU MAD, THERE ARE SOME OF US WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU NO MATTER WHAT? COME WHAT MAY'
When Prince Philip heads to Balmoral to take care of Elizabeth, he assumes she's hiding out due to the stress of losing another prime minister. And while that's part of it, her biggest reason for hiding from it all was due to her husband being mysterious.
He tells her that he's there to protect her and loves her regardless of what's happening politically, but Elizabeth sadly responds "If only." She doesn't believe her husband and doesn't know if she ever could.