In the 70 years Queen Elizabeth II reigned, she traveled at least 1,032,513 miles, earning her the title of the most-well-traveled monarch and the nickname the “million mile Queen,” according to Condé Nast Traveler.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
Step back in time and take a look at a few of her most historic trips.
In February 1952, the then-Princess Elizabeth arrived in Kenya to meet with the governor at the time, Sir Philip Mitchell, Condé Nast Traveler reported.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
A day after arriving at the Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park, she learned that her father, King George VI, had died. The next day, still in Kenya, she acceded to the throne, Condé Nast Traveler reported.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
Five months after being crowned in 1953, the Queen flew to Bermuda as part of a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, a political association of countries that were once British colonies, CNN reported.
Source: CNN
She visited more than 10 destinations on her first tour, including a Christmas stop in Auckland, New Zealand, according to CNN.
Source: CNN
“I set out on this journey in order to see as much as possible of the people and countries of the Commonwealth and Empire,” she said during a radio broadcast from New Zealand, per Condé Nast Traveler.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
And she accomplished just that. In her 70-year reign, the Queen visited 117 countries, according to The Independent.
Source: The Independent
For over four decades, she flew via the elite Royal Air Force unit, a now-disbanded fleet of planes created in 1936 by King Edward VIII and later renamed “The Queen’s Flight,” according to Condé Nast Traveler.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
For local trips, the Queen often rode the Royal Train, which carried the royal family and associated staff around the UK railway network, according to Condé Nast Traveler.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
But her favorite way to travel was on the Royal Yacht Britannia, Condé Nast Traveler reported. The yacht was five stories tall with more than 240 staff members and nicknamed the Queen’s “floating palace.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler; Insider
The yacht retired in 1997, one of the few times the Queen publicly shed a tear, per Condé Nast Traveler. Today, the ship is anchored in Leith, Scotland, and has reopened as a tourist attraction, according to Insider.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler; Insider
Whether via train, plane, or ship, Queen Elizabeth’s travels made milestones in British history. In 1961, she was the first British monarch to visit the Vatican, CNN reported.
Source: CNN
She also became the first reigning British monarch to visit South America when she traveled to Brazil in 1968, according to CNN.
Source: CNN
In 1979, she rode British Airways’ supersonic Concorde aircraft to Saudi Arabia. When she landed, she met King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which marked the first visit from a female head of state, per CNN.
Source: CNN
She was also the first British monarch to visit China. In 1986, she traveled around the globe and toured the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing, per CNN.
Source: CNN
2011 marked the first time a British monarch toured the Republic of Ireland in more than a century.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
Canada was the Queen’s most-visited country, according to The Independent. In her 70 years on the throne, the head of state traveled to Canada 24 times.
Source: The Independent
Behind Canada for most-visited countries was Australia, which the sovereign visited 19 times, The Independent reported.
Source: The Independent
In 2015, the Queen ended her overseas travels with the Duke of Edinburgh by her side. The two traveled to the Mediterranean country of Malta, Condé Nast Traveler reported.
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
According to CNN, it was a symbolic final trip for the pair. From 1949 to 1951, Malta was where the Queen and Prince Philip lived before she became the Queen.
Source: CNN
But even after her final overseas trip, the Queen continued to travel around the United Kingdom.
See Something Say Something, Share The News
↯↯↯Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media ↯↯↯
Related posts:
- At 73 years old, King Charles III set a record for becoming the oldest monarch in British history. Here are the top images from each year of his reign as a monarch.1971: Having become the first heir to the throne to graduate with a university degree (a 2:2 from Trinity College Cambridge), the then-titled Prince Charles...
- The world says goodbye to the longest-reigning monarch in British history in photos from the Queen’s burial.Mourners lined the streets of London to watch the Queen’s casket travel from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Mourners gather to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s...
- Queen Elizabeth just became the third longest-reigning monarch in historyShe has reigned for 70 years and 92 days, surpassing Johann II from Liechtenstein, who reigned for 70 years and 91 days before passing away in October 2016. In just 34 days, the Queen might reclaim second place from Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has ruled for 70 years and 126 days. However, the Queen still has a few years to go if she wants to overthrow King Louis XIV of France, who ruled for 72 years and 110 days. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris Jackson (@chrisjacksongetty) Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee On...
- Queen Consort Camilla honored Queen Elizabeth by wearing a brooch gifted to her by the late monarchQueen Consort Camilla wore a special brooch to honour Queen Elizabeth II as she attended a memorial service for the late queen. Queen Elizabeth passed away peacefully...
- The Transformative River Management Programme (TRMP), developed as a consequence of a four-year collaboration between the C40 Finance Facility (CFF) and the eThekwini Municipality, would lessen the effects of climate change, as evidenced by the April floodsThe Transformative River Management Programme (TRMP), developed as a consequence of a four-year collaboration between the C40 Finance Facility (CFF) and the eThekwini Municipality, would...
- Queen Elizabeth II: The first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee on February 6, this year. This year marks 70 years...
- What happens if Queen Elizabeth, the monarch, passes away?Operation London Bridge, a mechanism that has been in place since the 1960s, will come to fruition on the day that Queen Elizabeth II passes...
- Zulu monarch joins others in mourning Queen Elizabeth II’s passingThe Zulu king has joined countless others across the globe in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The death of Queen Elizabeth II, the...
- Anthony Albanese proposes a new plaza for Sydney as a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II after the monarch’s deathA building in Sydney’s central business district will be removed, and Queen Elizabeth II Place, a new open plaza, will be built in its place....
- Catholic prayers for the next monarch and Queen Elizabeth IIKing Charles III walks alongside the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top as it departs Westminster Abbey during...