The coronation is a time for British people around the world to celebrate, and it’s made a lot of people look back on the late Queen’s life. With King Charles’s coronation on 6th May, it’s likely he, too, will visit many of the countries that his mother visited. Research has found that the Queen liked to visit Commonwealth countries more than anywhere else. This research has been analysed to find out the specific countries the late Queen visited the most, and Audley specialists have offered a few thoughts as to why she went there often!
This research gives royalists and the general public a good idea of what countries she loved to visit, which could give you inspiration for your next trip. It’s also just quite interesting to know from a geographic and historical point of view. Ahead of the coronation, Audley specialists have delved into the data to shine a light on her favourite destinations, and how you can follow in her regal footsteps.
Canada
Let’s start with the country that the Queen visited the most! Royal Family flight data analysed by Audley Travel has revealed that Canada wears the crown as the Queen’s most-visited Commonwealth country, hosting 22 official visits that spanned all provinces. This meant she experienced many of the country’s highlights, from exploring First Nations cultures through traditional ceremonies to celebrating Canada Day with a visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Following the Queen’s visit here, many Britons found themselves visiting the North American country to follow in her footsteps. Popular tourist locations include places such as Halifax, Ottawa, Québec City, and Montréal. Many tourists visiting this country choose to embrace the outdoors visiting the Rockies and engaging in activities such as hiking to white-water rafting.
Discussing what it is about Canada that may have kept drawing the Queen back, Joseph Saunders, Canada specialist at Audley, said: ‘Queen Elizabeth II may have had official duties to undertake during her visits to Canada, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the country’s melting pot of cultures and striking mix of landscapes, from mountains to prairies to wild coastlines, also played a part in Canada being a firm favourite of hers.’
Australia
Looking at the data, you can see that Queen Elizabeth II journeyed across the globe to visit Australia 16 times between 1954 and 2011. She visited many of the countries’ key sights. Among those in Australia were the Great Barrier Reef, Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens, Mount Wellington in Tasmania, and the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. There are plenty of beautiful things to be seen in Australia, which is perhaps why the Queen visited so often.
You should visit Australia yourself to take all this in. As the country is so vast, you likely won’t be able to see everything in one visit. Pick a coast and see what you want there, and plan what you want to do before you get there. Next time you visit Australia, you can go to a different area, and take it all in!
New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Queen often met Māori leaders, including Māori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu. She visited a total of 10 times. She also attended Māori ceremonies, including the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Queen Elizabeth II was in New Zealand for many historic events, and it’s likely the King will be in the near future, too.
Barbados
Barbados was actually visited six times by the Queen, often as a stop on wider tours of the region. Her visits often coincided with events marking the country’s independence, as well as to celebrate her Silver and Gold Jubilees. The people of Barbados have close ties to the Royal Family through these visits.
When the Queen visited Barbados, she stopped by a lot of places. Some of the places she visited included the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, whose galleries are housed in 19th-century military prison buildings. You yourself can follow in the Royal Family’s footsteps and visit these places. Here, experts often tell visitors about the island’s natural, social, and military history. In 1966, the Queen officially opened Barclays Park, a scenic picnic spot that covers a hillside on the east coast.
