Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in the UK and his death on September 8, 2022, sparked a wave of commemorations and heartfelt messages. She had become a familiar face around the world and for many it is a surprisingly emotional event.
His long reign lasted over 70 years, during which he lived through turbulent times of war and peace throughout the Commonwealth countries and the world. Although her list of duties was long, the Queen cherished the time she had to relax with her family and her beloved corgis. She was one of the most traveled people in the world, with approximately 1.000.000.000 miles under her belt.
1. Balmoral Castle, Scotland
It's no secret that Queen Elizabeth held Scotland and the Balmoral Castle. If you keep up with the royal family, you've probably heard that this estate is where the queen felt most relaxed and where she traditionally spent two months in the summer. “I think Grandma is the happiest there,” Princess Eugenie, the Queen's granddaughter, said in the documentary Our Queen at Ninety . “I think he really, really loves the Highlands. It's a lovely base for grandma and grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.
Today, visitors can tour the 50.000-acre Balmoral Estate from April to July. The entrance fee to the estate includes parking and access to the castle's internal rooms (including the Ballroom Exhibition), stables, vegetable gardens and formal vegetable gardens. An audio tour is included in the ticket.
2. Sandringham House, England
Sandringham House it was the place, in England, in which the royal house of Windsor it meets every year for the Christmas celebrations. This stunning 8000-acre estate in Norfolk was originally purchased in 1862 by Queen Victoria for Edward VII, who used it for hunting and hunting trips. In fact, Edward VII requested that the country house clocks be set back half an hour so that there would be more daylight for hunting. Sandringham has always held a place in the Queen's heart, and it has been a place for her and her family to celebrate together.
Tourists can visit this beautiful country house at different times throughout the year. The property is not only home to the large house, but also a museum and grounds for tourists to explore. Sandringham Visitor Center is open every day all year round, excluding public holidays.
3. Windsor Castle, England
When her uncle abdicated and her father became king, Elizabeth became heir to the throne. This was just one of the changes in her life, changes that included growing up in Windsor Castle during World War II. The future Queen and her sister Margaret lived a very sheltered life there, away from the London Blitz. Their social life really annoyed King George VI. In his diary he wrote: “Poor dears, they haven’t had their fun yet.”
When Elizabeth became queen in 1952, she began to love the Windsor Castle rather than Buckingham Palace as it was a place of peace and memories. The castle is the oldest and longest standing castle in the world and is open to tourists all year round. Tours of the grounds and castle are available and take visitors through the stately apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls House and St George's Chapel. Tourists can sometimes even watch the changing of the guard.
Contrary to what many believe, the Queen did not like being at Buckingham Palace. In the docuseries The Royal House of Windsor It was noted that it was a very empty and cold place for her, full of hustle and bustle and that it did not allow her much time to relax. She much preferred Windsor Castle, located just outside London.
4. Villa Guardamangia, Malta
Before becoming Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth lived a simple life as a mother and wife with her naval husband in Malta between 1949 and 1951. Prince Philip was stationed there with HMS Magpie, and it is here that the couple and their two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne have lived relatively normal lives. The people of Malta left the royals alone and Elizabeth and her husband often drove around the island and enjoyed picnics. They lived in Villa Guardamangia, a 16.791-square-foot townhouse in Guardamangia given to them by Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten. It is now owned by the Government of Malta.
Unfortunately, to date, the villa is not open to the public as it is undergoing extensive renovation and has been transformed into a museum. However, if you are planning a visit in the near future, keep an eye out for the Heritage Malta website , as they have held open days in the past. The rehabilitation of the building is expected to begin in late 2022 and last for five years. Today, tourists can see the exterior of the building and imagine the simpler life Elizabeth enjoyed before taking on the heavy duties of the crown.
5. St. Mawes in Cornwall, England
Located on the banks of the Cornwall, St Mawes It is a breathtakingly beautiful fishing village and was a favorite of the Queen Mother. As little girls, the future queen Elizabeth and his sister the princess Margaret they were brought here quite often for a seaside retreat. The royals stayed in the Penolva, a beautiful house built by Dick Wilkins, personal friend of the Queen Mother.
The house has two terraces and a beautiful, well-kept garden overlooking the sea. There is also a private dock with direct access to the sea, where the family used to disembark. Today, holidaymakers can actually rent this sumptuous retreat with 180° sea views from St. Mawes Retreats. The house can accommodate up to eight people.
6. Epsom Downs and Ascot Racecourse
It's no secret that Queen Elizabeth II was a huge fan of horses and horse racing. Many even say that horse racing has remained so popular because of her encouragement and contributions to the sport. The royal family has bred horses and entered them into races since Queen Elizabeth's father came to power, and Queen Elizabeth has kept that tradition alive. The horses are kept at Royal Stud at Sandringham and have been raced by some of the best jockeys in the world. The first horse race the Queen won was the Epsom Oaks in 1957 with her horse Carriage.
The late Queen attended many horse races during her years, most notably the Royal Ascot a week a dayAscot Racecourse andEpsom Derby at Epsom Downs racecourse. A great way to pay homage to the late Queen and her passion for horses is to participate in one of these races. The Royal Ascot and Epsom Derby races are held every June.
7. Royal yacht Britannia
Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most well-traveled people in the world, visiting over 117 countries in her lifetime. She traveled by various means of transportation, but her favorite was the royal yacht, LO yacht Britannia of His Majesty. While also traveling by private car and private jet, she described her love of the boat as "the only place where I can truly relax."
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 due to running and maintenance costs. Today, the vessel's final resting place is in Edinburgh, where tourists can tour the grand rooms and enjoy afternoon tea in the Royal Deck Tea Room. The boat is also available for private events.
8. Aberdare National Park, Kenya
Kenya will always have significance in the life of Queen Elizabeth II as she was in Kenya when she found out that her father, King George VI, had died and that she had become queen. Elizabeth and Prince Philip were completing a tour for the sickly king and were staying at Kenya's oldest safari lodge, Treetops, in Aberdare National Park. His armed escort, Jim Corbett, famously documented in the Treetops logbook: “For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl went up the tree like a princess and came down like a queen.” The British royals' association with Kenya does not end there. The place was also a popular hunting spot for British royalty, people such as George VI and the Queen Mother were known to love the beauty of the country.
9. Scottish Islands
The Queen had enjoyed sailing on the Britannia to the Scottish Isles, where the family would land on remote islands and enjoy picnics; but when the Britannia was decommissioned in the 90s, the royal family did not have the funds to commission a new yacht. However, in 2006 and 2010, Queen Elizabeth II once again spent holidays cruising the Scottish islands with her family, now aboard the luxury Hebridean Princess. You can sail around those same islands on the same yacht with Hebridean Island Cruises.
10. Victoria, Canada
Queen Elizabeth II is said to have had a soft spot for Canada and visited it more than any other Commonwealth country. In total, she made 22 official visits to Canada as queen, but her first visit was in 1951 while she was still Princess Elizabeth. The late Queen stayed at Fairmont Empress Hotel every decade since she became queen and has enjoyed visiting British Columbia's national parks. For obvious political reasons, the Queen often visited Ottawa, the country's capital. Besides that, she mostly visited Victoria, British Columbia.
Queen Elizabeth II's last visit 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 said. “I'm happy to report that she still does, and I'm happy to be among you all again.”
