On this day in 1977, the marriage between George Harrison and Pattie Boyd came to a formal end, closing the chapter on a relationship that had spanned 11 years. The two had first crossed paths back in March of 1964, sparking a connection that would endure for more than a decade.
Wedding Bells Are Ringing
Boyd was quick to fall for the Beatle after their initial meeting on March 2 of 1964, breaking things off with photographer Eric Swayne just days afterward. The couple spent a little over a year together before getting engaged on Christmas day in 1965, and they were married a month later in January. Worried that paparazzi and overzealous fans might cause chaos at a bigger venue, they held the ceremony at a registry office in Surrey — though the intimate setting didn't stop them from dressing to impress. Boyd turned up in a dress designed by Mary Quant, while Harrison sported a Mongolian Lamb Coat.
Shortly after their 1966 wedding, the newlyweds sat down with the Evening Standard to discuss married life. Harrison spoke about how the marriage had reshaped numerous facets of his day-to-day existence, including a newfound appreciation for the finer things in life. As time went on, both developed a deep fascination with eastern mysticism, traveling to India together and embracing yoga and vegetarianism — habits they maintained even after returning to England. With The Beatles at the peak of their fame, Harrison also persuaded Boyd to step back from her modeling career, driven by concerns about their privacy and the potential threat posed by the band's passionate female fanbase.
The Honeymoon Is Over
For all their shared passions and early closeness, cracks in the relationship began to show in the early 1970s. Harrison's multiple affairs with other women — among them Ringo's wife Maureen — pushed the couple toward an unofficial separation in 1974. That split became legally binding on June 6, 1977, when both signed off on a divorce. The two remained in contact over the following years, though their final face-to-face encounter wouldn't come until 2001. Harrison had received a cancer diagnosis back in 1997 and initially held out hope for a full recovery. But four years on, with radiotherapy treatments failing to yield progress, he came to terms with the reality that his fight was slipping away. In his final stretch, he made a point of reconnecting with old friends and loved ones one last time. His meeting with Boyd took place around 3 months before his death.