10 of Queen Elizabeth II’s Favorite Places You Can Visit

Queen Elizabeth II was the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, and her loss of life on September eighth, 2022, let free a wave of memorials and heartfelt messages. She had develop into a well-recognized face internationally, and for a lot of, it’s a surprisingly emotional occasion. Her lengthy reign lasted over 70 years, throughout which she navigated turbulent instances of battle and peace all through the Commonwealth international locations and the world. While her listing of duties was lengthy, the Queen did cherish the time she needed to chill out along with her household and beloved corgis. She was one of essentially the most traveled folks on the earth, clocking in with an estimated 1,000,000,000 miles underneath her belt. As half of the royal household, she loved the luxurious of having many estates to go to, and she or he additionally toured many international locations. Below is a listing of some of her favourite locations that you can also go to. 

1. Balmoral Castle, Scotland

It is not any secret that Queen Elizabeth held Scotland and Balmoral Castle near her coronary heart. If you retain up with the royal household, you then in all probability have heard that this property is the place the Queen felt most relaxed and the place she historically spent two months in the summertime. “I think Granny is the most happy there,” stated Princess Eugenie, the Queen’s granddaughter, within the documentary Our Queen at Ninety. “I think she really, really loves the Highlands. It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”

Today, guests can go to the 50,000-acre Balmoral Estate from April to July. A ticket to the property covers parking and entry to rooms contained in the fortress (together with the Ballroom Exhibition), the stables, and the vegetable and formal gardens. An audio tour is included within the ticket. 

2. Sandringham House, England

Sandringham House has been the place the Royal House of Windsor gathers yearly for Christmas celebrations. 

This beautiful 8000-acre property in Norfolk was initially bought in 1862 by Queen Victoria for Edward VII, who used it for capturing events and searching. In reality, Edward VII demanded the clocks within the nation home be set again by a half hour in order that there could be extra daylight for searching. Sandringham has at all times held a spot within the Queen’s coronary heart, and it was a spot for herself and her household to rejoice collectively. 

Tourists can go to this stunning countryside residence at totally different instances all year long. The property not solely homes the massive residence but additionally a museum and grounds that vacationers can discover. The Sandringham Visitor Center is open every single day all 12 months lengthy, aside from holidays. 

3. Windsor Castle, England

When her uncle abdicated and her father took over as king, Elizabeth grew to become inheritor to the throne. This was however one of the adjustments in her life, adjustments that included rising up in Windsor Castle throughout World War II. The future Queen and her sister Margaret lived a really sheltered life there, away from the London Blitz. Their mundane life really bothered King George VI. In his diary, he wrote, “Poor darlings, they have never had any fun yet.” 

When Elizabeth grew to become Queen in 1952, she got here to like Windsor Castle over Buckingham Palace because it was a spot of peace and reminiscences. The fortress is the oldest and longest-occupied fortress on the earth and is open to vacationers all 12 months spherical. Tours of the grounds and chateau can be found and take guests via the Stately Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and St. George’s Chapel. Tourists generally additionally get to see the altering of the guard. 

Note: Contrary to what many consider, the Queen didn’t like staying at Buckingham Palace. It was famous within the docuseries The Royal House of Windsor that it was a really empty and chilly place for her, full of hustle and bustle and never permitting her a lot time to chill out. She a lot most popular Windsor Castle, situated simply outdoors of London.

For data on how and where to buy tickets to Windsor Castle click here.

4. Villa Guardamangia, Malta

Before changing into Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth lived a easy life as a mom and spouse along with her naval husband in Malta between 1949 and 1951. Prince Philip was stationed there with the HMS Magpie, and it was right here that the couple and their two youngsters, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, lived a comparatively regular life. The folks of Malta left the royals alone, and Elizabeth and her husband would typically drive across the island and revel in picnics. They lived in Villa Guardamangia, a 16,791 sq. foot townhouse in Guardamangia given to them by Prince Philip’s uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten. It is now owned by the federal government of Malta.

Unfortunately, as of right now, the villa will not be open to the general public as it’s present process in depth repairs and is being became a museum. However, if you’re planning a go to within the close to future, keep watch over Heritage Malta’s website, as they’ve held open days prior to now. The rehabilitation of the constructing is deliberate to begin on the finish of 2022 and final 5 years. Today, vacationers can view the surface of the constructing and picture the less complicated life Elizabeth loved earlier than taking up the heavy duties of the crown. 

5. St. Mawes, Cornwall, England

Located on the shores of Cornwall, this breathtakingly stunning fishing village was a favourite of the Queen Mother. As youngsters, the long run Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret have been introduced right here fairly ceaselessly for a seaside retreat. The royals stayed within the Penolva, a stunning home constructed by Dick Wilkins, the Queen Mother’s private buddy. 

The home options two terraces and a stunning manicured backyard overlooking the ocean. There can also be a personal ship dock with direct entry to the ocean, which the household used to return ashore. Today, vacationers can truly lease this lavish retreat with 180° seaside views from St. Mawes Retreats. The residence sleeps as much as eight visitors. 

6. Epsom Downs and Ascot Racecourse

It’s no secret that Queen Elizabeth II was an enormous fan of horses and horse racing. Many even say that horse racing has stayed so standard on account of her encouragement and contributions to the game. The Royal Family has stored horses and entered them in races since Queen Elizabeth’s father got here to energy, and Queen Elizabeth stored that custom alive. The horses are stored on the Royal Stud in Sandringham and have been raced by some of the world’s high jockeys. The first horse race the Queen ever gained was the Epsom Oaks in 1957 along with her horse Carrozza.

The late Queen attended many horse races all through her years, most notably the week-long Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse and the Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse. An effective way to pay tribute to the late Queen and her ardour for horses is to attend one of these races your self. The Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby races are held annually in June. 

7. Royal Yacht Britannia

Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of essentially the most well-traveled folks on the earth, visiting over 117 international locations in her lifetime. She traveled by numerous varieties of transportation, however her favourite was by the royal yacht, Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia. While she additionally traveled by personal automobile and personal jet, she described her love of the boat because the “one place where I can truly relax.”

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 as a result of price of working and sustaining it. Today, the ship’s closing resting place is in Edinburgh, the place vacationers can tour the grand rooms and revel in afternoon tea within the Royal Deck Tea Room. The boat can also be obtainable for personal occasions.

8. Aberdare National Park, Kenya

Kenya will at all times maintain significance within the life of Queen Elizabeth II as she was in Kenya when she discovered that her father, King George VI, had handed away and that she had develop into Queen. Elizabeth and Prince Philip have been filling in on a tour for the sickly king and have been staying within the oldest safari lodge in Kenya, Treetops, in Aberdare National Park. Her armed escort, Jim Corbett, famously documented within the Treetops logbook: “For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl climbed into the tree as a princess and climbed down as a queen.” The British royals’ affiliation with Kenya doesn’t finish there. The nation was additionally a well-liked sport searching spot for the British royals, figures like George VI and the Queen Mother have been recognized to like the wonder of the nation, and Prince William famously proposed to Kate Middleton at Lewa Downs within the north.

Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, Treetops closed down. If you wish to expertise the identical stylish safari idea, we propose testing Treetops’ neighboring lodging, The Ark. 

9. Scottish Isles

The Queen had loved crusing on the Britannia to the Scottish Isles, the place the household would disembark on distant islands and revel in picnics; however when the Britannia was decommissioned within the Nineties, the royal household didn’t have the funds to fee a brand new yacht. However, in 2006 and 2010, Queen Elizabeth II as soon as once more spent trip cruising the Scottish Islands along with her household, now aboard the luxurious Hebridean Princess. You can sail round those self same islands on the identical yacht with Hebridean Island Cruises. 

10. Victoria, Canada

Queen Elizabeth II is alleged to have had a delicate spot for Canada, and she or he visited it greater than every other Commonwealth nation. In whole, she made 22 official visits to Canada as Queen, however her first go to was in 1951 whereas she was nonetheless Princess Elizabeth. The late Queen stayed on the Fairmont Empress Hotel each decade since she grew to become Queen and loved visiting British Columbia’s nationwide parks. For apparent political causes, the Queen ceaselessly visited Ottawa, the nation’s capital metropolis. Outside of that, she visited Victoria, British Columbia, essentially the most. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s final go to to Canada was in 2010. “My mother once said that this country felt like a home away from home for the Queen of Canada,” she stated. “I’m delighted to report that it still does, and I’m delighted to be back amongst you all.”

Other Royal Estates You Can Visit That the Queen Lived in

• Buckingham Palace, London 
• Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
• Hillsborough House, Northern Ireland
• Clarence House, London (the place she lived earlier than changing into Queen) 
• Windlesham Moor, England (the primary place the Queen and her husband rented for just a few years) 

Regardless of your private views concerning the monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II was, at first, a mom, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. She served her nation and her household with grace and knowledge. Her legacy will stay on.