Here's why the queen was giggling in that viral photo with Prince Philip
The photo of the royal couple, who celebrated their 73rd anniversary five months ago, captured a sweet moment between the two.
www.today.comThe latest reporting I found says a royal aide recalled Prince Philip playfully chasing Queen Elizabeth, pinching her bottom, and growling, which prompted her laughter; the story was published on April 19–20, 2026.[1][3]
What the story says
The account comes from Ian Lloyd’s book The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II and describes a lighthearted moment between the couple in Elizabeth’s thirties.[3][1]
It also repeats a separate remark attributed to former private secretary Martin Charteris that Philip treated the Queen like “another human being,” which was part of why their marriage worked well.[1][3]
Related note
There’s also a newer article from January 2026 about another old royal anecdote involving Elizabeth and Philip during a trip to Australia, but that piece is about an argument and a shoe-throwing incident, not the playful “pinching” story.[2][8]
If you want, I can also summarize the most credible source behind the anecdote and how the story has been covered across outlets.