Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth are not the most affectionate members of the royal family. In fact, they are known for keeping their public displays of affection to a bare minimum.

But shortly after they tied the knot, the young couple seemed to be more affectionate towards each other compared to when they got older. In a throwback photo, the Duke of Edinburgh is hugging his new wife from the back.

The black and white photo shows Prince Philip wearing his usual suit and tie. The left side of his face is in front of the camera. As such, his pointed nose is highlighted in the picture.

Prince Philip is actually standing behind his wife, who is wearing a coat with brooch and a matching skirt. The Queen’s hair is neatly fixed. Both she and Prince Philip have serious looks on their faces.

By the looks of it, the Queen is reading something and Prince Philip is reading it with her. But since he’s standing behind his wife, and he’s much taller than Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh leans in closer to the Queen. The photo makes it seem as though the dad of four is hugging his wife.

According to royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, there are no rules when it comes to public displays of affection among members of the royal family. However, they all know not to go all out with their loved-up gestures especially when they are engaged in their royal duties.

“Senior members of the royal family would likely not be told how to interact or when they can or cannot show PDA and would be trusted to use their better judgment as to when it’s appropriate,” she told People.

But every now and then, it is a welcome sight to see Prince Philip and the Queen being affectionate towards each other. In fact, they also have a throwback photo wherein they are kissing each other sweetly on the lips.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip
Pictured: The Queen, Prince Philip depart a Service of Commemoration for troops who were stationed in Afghanistan on March 13, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images/Chris Jackson
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