Queen Elizabeth was photographed giggling with Prince Philip in a rare candid moment in 2003 — here's what happened

• A photo of Queen Elizabeth giggling with Prince Philip resurfaced following the Queen's death at 96.
• In 2003, a swarm of bees interrupted the inspection of the Grenadier Guards at Windsor Castle.

April 15, 2003 was just another day at Windsor Castle, with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hosting an inspection of the Queen's Company regiment of the Grenadier Guards.

Then, the event was interrupted by some unexpected guests — a swarm of bees.

Photographer Chris Young, who was working for the Press Association at the time, documented the scene as guests ran for cover and a royal beekeeper came to return the bees to their hive. Young then turned his camera on Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to capture their reaction.

What he caught was a sweet, candid moment between the monarch and her husband.

"I got lucky," Young told the BBC 18 years later. "I recognized that it was a human moment. She was giggling like a little girl and he was laughing too. I thought the reaction from both of them was pretty unique."

The 2003 photo resurfaced in the wake of Prince Philip's death in 2021, and again when Queen Elizabeth died this year. A rare candid moment between the couple, Young's image remains a testament to the affection Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip shared throughout their 73-year marriage.