The Queen of travel

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

Queen Elizabeth II leaves Fiji during a royal tour in February 1977. Serge Lemoine/Getty Images

The Queen of travel Journeys of a lifetime

By Francesca Street and Mark Oliver, CNN September 13, 2022

S he was traveling the moment she ascended to the throne, and for much of the next seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II criss-crossed the world. Newly married and still just a princess, Britain’s future monarch was in Kenya with husband Prince Philip in February 1952 when she learned of her father’s death and her new regal status.

During her reign she would visit more than 120 countries, witnessing first-hand the revolutions in global travel that shrank the world as her own influence over it diminished.

The Queen lived through the advent of the Jet Age, flew supersonic on the Concorde, saw regimes change, countries form and dissolve, the end of the British Empire and the rise of globalization.

Here are some of the most memorable travel moments from her 70 years as monarch.

November 24-25, 1953

Less than six months after she was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, Queen Elizabeth set off on her travels again. Her debut official state trip was an epic six-month tour of the Commonwealth -- the alliance of nations which were once British colonies. Traveling by air, sea and land she visited several countries, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. First stop was the North Atlantic island of Bermuda, a British territory she would visit a further four times during her reign. The trip would go on to include stops in Jamaica, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Cocos Islands, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Aden (now part of Yemen), Uganda, Malta and Gibraltar.

December 19-20, 1953

At Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in June 1953, Queen Salote Tupou III of the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga won over the British public when she sat, rain-soaked, in her open carriage. They also took an interest when Elizabeth returned the visit later in the year. The two queens enjoyed an open-air feast, watched Tongan dancers and admired a tortoise that legend said was presented by explorer Captain James Cook to the King of Tonga in 1777.

December 23, 1953 – January 30, 1954

New zealand.

The Queen voyaged to New Zealand during the Antipodean summer of 1953-4. Over the course of the trip, it’s estimated that three out of every four New Zealanders got a glimpse of her. In preparation for the Queen’s visit, some New Zealand sheep were dyed in the UK flag colors of red, white and blue. The Queen returned to the country nine times over the years, including in 2002 as she marked half a century on the throne.

April 10-21, 1954

Ceylon (now sri lanka).

A visit to Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, coincided with the Queen’s 28th birthday. She visited the city of Colombo where crowds joined together to sing her “Happy Birthday.” She also visited the central city of Kandy, where she watched a procession featuring a reported 140 elephants and met local chiefs.

April 8-11, 1957

The Queen had visited France as a young princess, but her first state visit as monarch was a glamorous affair. She attended the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris, visited the Palace of Versailles, and dined at the Louvre with then-President Rene Coty. The Queen also laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and visited the Scottish Church of Paris.

October 17-20, 1957

United states.

Having met President Harry S. Truman in Washington in 1951 during a visit before ascending to the throne, Elizabeth was no stranger to America when she arrived on her first trip as Queen. Her 1957 visit marked the 350th anniversary of the first permanent British settlement on the continent, in Jamestown. The monarch attended a college football game at the former Byrd Stadium in Maryland where she watched the home team lose to North Carolina. She met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the White House and later traveled to New York, where she and Prince Philip drove through the streets and admired panoramic views of the city from the Empire State Building.

February 1-16, 1961

The Queen and Prince Philip visited Pakistan in 1961, arriving in the port city of Karachi after completing a visit to India as part of a wider tour of South Asia. She drove through the streets of Karachi in an open-top car, before going on to visit Lahore, where a torchlight military tattoo took place in her honor and Prince Philip played in a game of polo.

February 26 to March 1, 1961

In Nepal, the Queen inspected troops in Kathmandu and met Gurkha ex-servicemen in Pokhara. The monarch rode on an elephant and visited the Hanuman Dhoka Palace complex in Kathmandu. She took part in the rather grim spectacle of a tiger hunt although didn’t shoot any animals herself. She instead recorded the experience on cine camera – a recording device that she often carried with her on her earlier foreign trips.

March 2-6, 1961

The Queen visited pre-revolution Iran at the end of her 1961 South Asian tour. Hosted by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, she toured ancient monuments including the ruins of Persepolis, once a capital of the Achaemenid Empire, later declared a World Heritage Site. She also saw Sheikh Lotfollah mosque in Esfahan and admired collections of the Archaeological Museum of Iran.

May 5, 1961

Vatican city.

In 1961, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to visit the Vatican. Dressed all in black, the Queen had an audience with Pope John XXIII, also attended by Prince Philip. She returned to the Vatican three more times during her reign, meeting Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.

November 9-20, 1961

Bombing incidents in the capital Accra left officials worried about the safety of the Queen’s visit to Ghana but, after deliberation, UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan confirmed it would go ahead. During the trip, the Queen famously shared a dance with Ghana’s then-president, Kwame Nkrumah. At the height of Cold War uncertainty, this seemingly innocuous moment was seen as significant in ensuring Ghana remained affiliated to Britain and not the USSR.

May 18-28, 1965

West germany (now germany).

The Queen’s visit to West Germany and West Berlin was viewed as a symbolic gesture of goodwill in the post-World War II landscape. It was the first royal trip to German territory for more than 50 years and photographs such as one of the Queen and Prince Philip in a car driving past the Brandenburg Gate had symbolic resonance.

November 5-11, 1968

Queen Elizabeth became the first reigning British monarch to visit South America when she landed in Brazil in late 1968. During the trip, the Queen wore a striking jewelry set made of Brazilian aquamarine, gifted to her in 1953 by the Brazilian president and added to over time. The monarch also attended a football match between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and presented the winner’s trophy to Brazilian footballer Pele.

October 18-25, 1971

On the first of two trips to Turkey -- the second took place in 2008 -- the Queen visited the Gallipoli peninsula to remember the Allied soldiers who died there during World War I. The monarch also explored the ruins of the ancient Greek empire city of Ephesus. A media highlight of the visit came when she was photographed leaping ashore from a barge, after disembarking from her ship, the Royal Yacht Britannia.

February 10-15, 1972

Accompanied by Prince Philip and daughter Princess Anne, the Queen was greeted on arrival in Bangkok by a carpet of flower petals. The monarch was given a golden key to the city of Bangkok, attended a state banquet and visited Bang Pa-In Palace, the Thai royal family’s summer residence, north of the capital.

October 17-21, 1972

The Queen’s visit to Yugoslavia was her first trip to a communist country. The Central European country no longer exists -- the areas that the Queen visited are now part of Croatia. During her trip, she met Yugoslav political leader Josip Broz Tito and traveled on his famous Blue Train.

February 15-16, 1974

New hebrides (now vanuatu).

The Queen and Prince Philip visited the Pacific island archipelago of Vanuatu, then known as the New Hebrides, in 1974. It’s said the royal couple’s visit to Vanuatu may have strengthened the belief among some locals on Tanna island that the Duke of Edinburgh was a divine being.

February 24-March 1, 1975

On her first of two visits to Mexico, the Queen toured ancient sites -- including the pyramids of Uxmal, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monarch also received local crafts, met school children and attended a banquet. While she was driven through Mexico City, the Queen was showered in confetti.

February 17-20, 1979

Saudi arabia.

In 1979, the Queen became the first female head of state to visit Saudi Arabia, on a tour of Gulf States. At Riyadh Airport, she was met by King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, pictured. The outfits she wore on the trip were carefully designed in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s conservative dress code for women. The Queen arrived on a British Airways supersonic Concorde aircraft and during the visit attended camel races and toured the National Museum.

October 26-27, 1982

The Queen visited Tuvalu, a group of nine islands in the South Pacific, in 1982. Upon arrival, the Queen and Prince Philip were carried in a flower-filled canoe from sea to shore. Thirty years later, in 2012, Prince William visited Tuvalu with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, who drank a coconut from a tree planted by Queen Elizabeth on this 1982 visit.

February 26 – March 6, 1983

On a star-studded trip to the United States, the Queen toured the 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood with then-First Lady Nancy Reagan and met Frank Sinatra, who she’d previously met in the 1950s, at a party given in her honor. The Queen and Prince Philip also visited Yosemite National Park in California, pictured.

November 10-14, 1983

The Queen returned to Kenya in 1983 for a state visit. When she was there 31 years previously, she'd learned that her father had passed away and she had become Britain’s reigning monarch. In 1983, the Queen and Prince Philip revisited the Treetops hotel, pictured, where they were staying at the time she was told the news.

October 12-18, 1986

The Queen’s trip to China was the first -- and, so far, only -- state visit by a British monarch to China. With Prince Philip by her side, the Queen visited the Great Wall of China, pictured, as well as the Forbidden City in Beijing.

October 17-20, 1994

In 1994, in another royal first, the Queen visited Russia. Over the three-day trip, the Queen met Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, pictured here with the monarch outside St Basil’s Cathedral, as well as Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The Queen also attended the Bolshoi Ballet. In her traditional Christmas Day speech broadcast later that year, the Queen reflected on how times had changed, noting she “never thought it would be possible in [her] lifetime” to attend a service in Moscow’s famous cathedral.

March 19-25, 1995

South africa.

In 1994, after apartheid ended, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth as a republic. The following year, the Queen traveled there, in a visit designed to renew ties between the two countries. The Queen met with President Nelson Mandela, pictured, and presented him with the Order of Merit.

October 12-18, 1997

The Queen visited India for the third time in 1997, her first public engagement since Princess Diana’s funeral just weeks before. The trip marked 50 years since India’s independence from Britain. Most memorably, the monarch visited the site of the Amritsar massacre, also known as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, of April 13, 1919. She also expressed regret at a state banquet in New Delhi for the “distressing” episode in which British soldiers gunned down hundreds of unarmed civilians. The gesture was seen by some as inadequate. “The Queen is doing everything she can to make India like her. But so far it does not seem to be working,” wrote the UK’s Independent newspaper at the time.

October 4-15, 2002

The Queen visited Canada many times. In 2002, her trip to the North American country coincided with her Golden Jubilee festivities, celebrating 50 years of her reign. During the trip, the Queen attended an ice hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks, and dropped the ceremonial puck.

March 11-16, 2006

The Queen visited Australia 16 times as Head of State. In 2006, she traveled to Melbourne to open the Commonwealth Games. She was greeted by a welcoming party in Canberra, visited the Sydney Opera House, attended a Commonwealth Day service in St. Andrew’s Cathedral and toured Admiralty House, the Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia.

May 17-20, 2011

The Queen’s trip to Dublin was the first time a British monarch had set foot in the Irish Republic since its 1922 independence. At Dublin Castle the Queen delivered a well-received speech on the history of Anglo-Irish relations. In County Tipperary, she also toured the medieval Rock of Cashel, pictured, once a seat of power for Ireland’s ancient kings.

November 26-28, 2015

From 1949 to 1951, before she was Queen, Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived in Malta. In 2015, the monarch paid her last visit to the island, touring the Grand Harbour in a Maltese fishing boat and waving to members of the British Royal Navy.

United Kingdom

In the later years of her reign, the Queen cut back on foreign travel, passing on the mantle to the younger royals. In more recent years, royal tours have also been looked at with more skeptical eyes, as Britain reckons with its colonial past.

While she didn't travel abroad in the later years of her reign, the Queen continued to vacation in the UK. Most notably, the Queen’s ties with Scotland remained strong throughout her reign and her residence there, Balmoral Castle, was a favorite refuge. It was at Balmoral that the Queen died on September 8, 2022.

SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

  • Meet the team
  • Privacy Policy
  • Royal Weddings
  • Media & Commentary requests

Royal Central

Milestones of a Monarch: The Commonwealth Tour of 1953-1954

' src=

The story of how Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne—that she went up a tree a princess and climbed back down a queen—and the aborted tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya that had to be postponed is well-documented. But what of her first official tour as The Queen?

In late 1953, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a Commonwealth Tour that would see them visiting 13 Commonwealth realms, travelling over 44,000 miles, and making her the first Monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand.

The Queen and Prince Philip began the Commonwealth Tour on 24 November 1953 in Bermuda, arriving in Jamaica the next day. From there, The Queen and Prince Philip departed Jamaica on 27 November and arrived in Fiji on 17 December.

A tour of Fiji and Tonga ensued from 17-20 December before the couple arrived in New Zealand, making her the first Monarch to visit the realm.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen and Prince Philip spent Christmas in New Zealand, with The Queen recording her Christmas message from Government House in Auckland. She said: “My husband and I left London a month ago, but we have already paid short visits to Bermuda, Jamaica, Fiji and Tonga, and have passed through Panama. I should like to thank all our hosts very warmly for the kindness of their welcome and the great pleasure of our stay.

“In a short time we shall be visiting Australia and later Ceylon and before we end this great journey we shall catch a glimpse of other places in Asia, Africa and in the Mediterranean.

“So this will be a voyage right round the world – the first that a Queen of England has been privileged to make as Queen. But what is really important to me is that I set out on this journey in order to see as much as possible of the people and countries of the Commonwealth and Empire, to learn at first hand something of their triumphs and difficulties and something of their hopes and fears.

“At the same time I want to show that the Crown is not merely an abstract symbol of our unity but a personal and living bond between you and me.”

The Queen and Prince Philip were in New Zealand until 30 January 1954, arriving in Australia for an eight-week tour on 3 February. According to the State Library of New South Wales, in their 58 days touring Australia, they visited 57 towns and cities.

After leaving Australia on 1 April, The Queen and Prince Philip travelled to the Cocos Islands, arriving on 5 April.

From 10-21 April—The Queen’s birthday—they visited Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and on 27 April they visited Aden. The couple then spent the final days of April in Uganda before touring Malta from 3-7 May and wrapping up the Commonwealth Tour in Gibraltar on 10 May.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen and Prince Philip arrived back in London on 15 May 1954 aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, greeting their young children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, at the dock.

The Queen would celebrate her Silver Jubilee in 1977 with another break-neck Commonwealth Tour that saw her and Prince Philip visiting 14 countries including Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados.

In 2002, for the Golden Jubilee, The Queen and Prince Philip visited Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. By 2012, the year of the Diamond Jubilee, The Queen and Prince Philip had all but ceased international visits, so members of the Royal Family undertook tours on their behalf.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Gibraltar, and Montserrat. The Princess Royal visited Mozambique and Zambia.

Prince Harry visited the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica. The Duke of Gloucester visited the British Virgin Islands, Uganda and Malta. The Duke of York visited India

Share this:

' src=

About author

Latest posts, the diamond tiara hidden for decades that is now the favourite of a queen, the diamonds given on the eve of one reign that were worn at the start of another, king harald out of hospital to recuperate at home, the mystery of the queen mother's wedding bouquet, never miss the latest, most popular, the queen watches on with pride as lady louise drives prince philip’s carriages at windsor horse show, an annus horribilis in monaco a difficult year for albert and charlene finally winds to an end, the duchess of cambridge wows tv audiences with a musical piano performance on christmas eve, latest blogs.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The weddings of Queen Victoria's children

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The lesson of royal history and International Women's Day

Queen camilla pulls a sparkling royal surprise with an unearthed gem.

Tracing Queen Elizabeth’s steps through the U.S.

By Danielle Paquette | Sep 10, 2022

During her seven-decade reign, Queen Elizabeth II visited more than two dozen cities across the United States. She chatted with Girl Scouts, football players, presidents and Frank Sinatra . She cheered on race horses in Kentucky. She requested a ham sandwich with the crust removed in Texas. She sported a tweed skirt-suit in Yosemite National Park.

Wherever England’s longest-serving monarch went, photographers followed, capturing generations of Americans in the throes of Royal fever (and more than a few signature handbags ).

Oct. 17, 1957 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II heads to the White House as crowd's line Washington streets to see the royal monarch.

Oct. 18, 1957 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II accepts a doll for Princess Anne from 7-year-old Pamela Springmann during a visit at Children's Hospital.

Queen Elizabeth II and Vice President Richard Nixon tilt their heads for a better view of the oil paintings on the interior of the Capitol dome during a tour.

Oct. 19, 1957 | College Park, Md.

Co-captains of North Carolina and Maryland meet Queen Elizabeth II before the start of a game.

Oct. 21, 1957 | New York

Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a mink stole, and Prince Philip, standing next to a viewing telescope, view New York City from the observatory roof of the Empire State Building. The Queen said, "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Queen Elizabeth II, in a plastic domed car, rides up lower Broadway through a shower of ticker tape and confetti during procession to City Hall.

Queen Elizabeth II addresses the United Nations General Assembly.

Her Majesty kicked off a seven-city tour of the nation’s east in 1976 with a stop in Philadelphia, where she unveiled a gift for the City of Brotherly Love: a Bicentennial Bell to celebrate 200 years of American independence from English rule. (The bell remains in storage .)

July 7, 1976 | Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip walk down the ramp of their aircraft near Washington.

July 7, 1976 | Philadelphia

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by the Girl Scouts of America.

July 8, 1976 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the U.S. Capitol.

On her New York leg, Elizabeth was spotted squeezing through city throngs, underscoring the lighter security protocols of yesteryear.

July 10, 1976 | New York

Thousands surround Queen Elizabeth II as she walks from the Federal Building up Wall Street to Trinity Church with Mayor Abraham Beame.

J Walter Green

July 10, 1976 | Charlottesville, Va.

Queen Elizabeth II tours Thomas Jefferson's Monticello home.

July 11, 1976 | Boston

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave to spectators below from the balcony of the Old State House before the Queen descended to street level to address the crowd. The location is the site of the Boston massacre, an event which led to the Revolutionary War.

Elizabeth returned in 1983 for a trek through the West Coast. She visited a Southern California retirement home, led a champagne toast with then-president Ronald Reagan and absorbed the mountain views at Yosemite National Park.

Feb. 26, 1983 | San Diego

Queen Elizabeth II reviews the U.S. Marine Corps honor guard as she arrives for a State visit.

Feb. 28, 1983 | Sierra Madre

Queen Elizabeth II shares a smile with 97-year-old Sibyl Jones-Bateman after the monarch was presented with a bouquet during tour of the British Home retirement community near Los Angeles.

March 3, 1983 | San Francisco

President Ronald Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II raise their glasses in a toast during a state dinner at the M. H. de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.

Ed Reinke/AP

March 5, 1983 | Yosemite, Calif.

Park superintendent Bob Binnewies points out highlights from Inspiration Point to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Yosemite National Park.

The queen, a horse racing enthusiast, landed in Kentucky five times between 1984 and 2007, according to the Courier-Journal . She was known to turn up at horse farms, admiring the mares and foals.

May 23, 1986 | Versailles, Ky.

Queen Elizabeth II puts out her hand to her filly foal by the mare Christchurch and Alydar during a visit to Lane's End Farm.

May 27, 1986 | Lexington, Ky.

Queen Elizabeth II exchanges pleasantries with a line of Fayette County (Ky.) and Kentucky State Troopers on the tarmac as prepares to depart following a five-day visit.

Amy Sancetta/Associated Press

May 26, 1989 | Lexington, Ky.

Queen Elizabeth II is welcomed by a child upon her arrival during a private visit to the U.S.

David Banks

During her 1991 visit, Elizabeth addressed Congress. Lawmakers gave the monarch a standing ovation, while opponents of British occupation in Northern Ireland protested outside the Capitol.

May 14, 1991 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II and President George H.W. Bush review the troops after the Queen's arrival at the White House.

May 15, 1991 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II holds flowers presented to her at Drake Place, a housing project.

May 16, 1991 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II is applauded by Vice President Dan Quayle and House Speaker Thomas Foley before her address to the U.S. Congress.

Doug Mills/AP

Elizabeth’s last U.S. state visit came in 2007, when she arrived for the 400th anniversary of England establishing its first permanent North American settlement in Jamestown, Va.

She dined with then-president George W. Bush, watched the Kentucky Derby through bulletproof glass and checked out Washington memorials.

May 4, 2007 | Lexington, Ky.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip look out of the window of an SUV as they leave the Bluegrass Airport after arriving.

Morry Gash/AP

May 5, 2007 | Louisville, Ky.

Queen Elizabeth II chats with Prince Philip as Susan Lucci (black hat) looks on at the 133rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Rob Carr/AP

May 7, 2007, | Washington

President Bush smiles at Queen Elizabeth II before the start of a State Dinner at the White House.

Evan Vucci/AP

May 8, 2007 | Washington

Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. Park Service Director Mary Bomar walk around the National World War II Memorial during a visit by the Queen and Duke.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

May 8, 2007 | Greenbelt, Md.

Queen Elizabeth II accepts flowers from children while walking during a visit to the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Larry Downing

Elizabeth made her final stop on American soil in 2010 to address the United Nations General Assembly. “I believe I was last here in 1957,” she deadpanned to her New York audience.

July 6, 2010 | New York

Queen Elizabeth II leaves a wreath of flowers at the site of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack during her visit.

Lucas Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II speaks at the United Nations Headquarters.

Seth Wenig/AP

More from the Post

Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch

The queen’s travels, in photos

The latest from The Washington Post

Photo editing and production by Natalia Jiménez

Photos of Queen Elizabeth II's historic trips show she was the most-well-traveled monarch in history

  • Queen Elizabeth II was the most well-traveled monarch in history.
  • During her reign, she traveled more than 1 million miles, earning her the nickname "million mile Queen."
  • The Queen traveled to 117 countries in her lifetime. These photos show some of her most historic trips. 

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Source: Condé Nast Traveler

Step back in time and take a look at a few of her most historic trips.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Source: CNN

She visited more than 10 destinations on her first tour, including a Christmas stop in Auckland, New Zealand, according to CNN.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

"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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

And she accomplished just that. In her 70-year reign, the Queen visited 117 countries, according to The Independent.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

She also became the first reigning British monarch to visit South America when she traveled to Brazil in 1968, according to CNN.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

2011 marked the first time a British monarch toured the Republic of Ireland in more than a century.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen visited nearly every Commonwealth member state and island nation except Cameroon and Rwanda, according to The Independent.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Behind Canada for most-visited countries was Australia, which the sovereign visited 19 times, The Independent reported.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

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.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

But even after her final overseas trip, the Queen continued to travel around the United Kingdom.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen spent her last days at her beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Insider reported. There, she died on September 8, 2022.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Read more: I visited Balmoral, where Queen Elizabeth spent her final days, after her death. I can see why she cherished this castle as a 'royal escape.'

queen elizabeth 2 tour

  • Main content
  • Area Guides
  • Building Guides
  • School Guides
  • Floor plans
  • Market Trends
  • Life at Bayut

The QE2 Dubai Exterior

Inside Dubai’s five star floating hotel: The Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai

From the world’s tallest building to the largest luxury mall, Dubai has done it all. And now, the city has a new addition to impressive list of world records – the Middle East’s first floating five-star hotel, the Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai. Docked at Port Rashid Mina, the QE2 Dubai is the latest in the line of unique experiences that the city offers! Once a magnificent ocean liner, the QE2 has been transformed into a luxurious and elegant hotel spanning 13 decks along with dining, entertainment, events and so much more.

Over 50 years, the Queen Elizabeth 2 has carried a total of 2.5 million passengers and has been witness to a glorious maritime history. Today, the legendary vessel has been refurbished and restored to its former splendour, while some parts have been modernised to give guests a more modern, luxury experience. A must-visit attraction in Dubai, there’s no end to things to do on the QE2 Dubai! Dine at restaurants frequented by royalty or enjoy the best of entertainment at the onboard theatre. Read on to find out all the interesting restaurants, bars, shows, tours and offers to watch out for aboard this magnificent vessel!

10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do Aboard the QE2 Dubai

  go on a heritage tour in the qe2 hotel dubai.

Exhibit at QE2 Dubai Heritage Tour

The Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai is a treasure trove of history and interesting tales. History buffs will love the heritage tour around the famous vessel, which gives visitors a glimpse into the glorious past of the Queen Elizabeth 2 ship. The tour starts from the Heritage Exhibition near the ship, then tours the original rooms and interesting artefacts of the Queen Elizabeth 2 from the inside. Did you know that the ship boasted the largest cinema at sea that could accommodate over 531 people? Visitors will also be able to view the impressive restaurants, theatre and other leisure activities aboard the QE2 ship. Keep in mind that the timings for the Heritage Tours are subject to change, so make sure to confirm them beforehand!

  • Timings: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm; Daily
  • Price: AED 170 per person (incl. AED 100 worth voucher for F&B)
  • Contact: 04 526 8888

Shop at Dubai Duty Free Arcade

Shopping at The QE2 Hotel Dubai

No trip aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel Dubai is complete without the souvenir. The Dubai Duty Free – located on the Boat Deck – offers visitors ample opportunities to indulge their shopping cravings. Browse a selection of glittering jewellery and watches, quirky branded merchandise and the latest electronics. In fact, international visitors aboard the QE2 Dubai can shop to their heart’s content, and have their purchases delivered to the airport as well!

  • Timings: 12pm – 10pm; Daily

Relax at the QE2 Spa

Looking for the ultimate relaxation aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 ship? Head down to the QE2 Spa, situated on Deck 1, where revitalising massages and refreshing facials await. Managed by Dreamworks Spa, choose from specialised facials for men and women, or indulge in a full-body massage for a spa experience like no other.

  • Timings: 10am – 10pm; Daily
  • Contact: 04 526 8821

Watch a show at the QE2 Dubai theatre

Theatre at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Ship

Aboard the QE2 Dubai is the only licensed theatre in Dubai! This grand theatre can accommodate 515 people and offers the audience the chance to enjoy their drinks while watching the show. Catch a fascinating mix of local and international entertainment here. Upcoming shows include An Evening in Paris, which will transport visitors to the charming city with dance troupes, orchestras and operas, while dining on a five-course menu.

  • Timings: Check website for calendar of events
  • Contact: 04 330 3457

Stay in shape at the gym

For the health conscious, a fully-equipped gymnasium complete with free weights, mats and other training equipment is available on Deck 7 for those staying aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai. If the gym isn’t your style, then the sleek nine-metre indoor swimming pool, restored from the original, is perfect for a couple of laps.

  • Timings: 7am – 7pm

Dine on quintessential British cuisine

One of the QE2 Dubai restaurants

Ever wanted to dine like royalty? Then the fine-dining restaurant aboard the ship, Queen’s Grill is your best bet. Once patronised by members of British royalty, Queen’s Grill today still maintains the original ocean liner feel with the elegance of fine-dining. Dine on exquisite British specialities prepared by Chef Rama, who was a part of the culinary team during the ship’s sailing days. Delectable dishes like butter confit lobster and braised lamb paired with magnificent sea views make for an exhilarating experience. Browse the tasting menus on the QE2 Dubai website, and make a reservation before you visit the restaurant.

  • Timings: 7pm – 11pm; Daily (Dinner); 3pm – 5pm; Thursday to Saturday (Afternoon Tea)
  • Ages allowed: 7 years and above

Take in Dubai’s impressive skyline from the Yacht Club

Another one of the original QE2 restaurants, Yacht Club offers visitors a selection of house beverages and sparkling grape to enjoy. In cooler temperatures, visitors can even head to the sweeping terrace to admire Dubai’s skyline or watch a stunning sunset.

  • Timings: 4pm – 1am, Monday to Wednesday; 4pm – 3am, Thursday; 12pm – 3am, Friday and Saturday

Watch live sports at The Golden Lion

The Golden Lion Pub at QE2

The Golden Lion will take visitors back in time with its quaint and traditional pub atmosphere! Serving up a variety of house beverages, The Golden Lion in Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai lets visitors delve into the ship’s past through the stories of its voyages around the world. Sip on your drink while you watch a spot of live football or give the pool tables and dart games a try.

  • Timings: 12pm – 12am; Daily

Curl up with a good book at the Q Cafe

Located near the entrance to the ocean liner, Q Café is a sun-drenched space where visitors can refuel with coffee, quick bites and light pastries. Letting in plenty of natural light, Q Café is the ideal spot to relax, catch up on work or sink into a good vintage book from its extensive collection.

  • Timings: 7am – 11pm

Stay aboard the QE2 Hotel Dubai

QE2 Dubai offers you the chance to experience the thrill of staying in an ocean liner while being in the heart of the city. With some fantastic ongoing offers, visitors can truly immerse themselves into the QE2 Dubai’s history, by staying onboard this floating hotel. The rooms aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel have porthole windows with breath-taking views that will truly give you the feeling of being at sea. Visitors will have the chance to explore the entertainment and dining options at leisure when staying on the ship. Guests have the choice of a variety of rooms onboard, from standard rooms with sea views to club rooms that come with a balcony to enjoy the fresh air.

The prices to stay aboard the ship vary according to room types and dates chosen. Visitors can book their stay online through the QE2 Dubai website. However, to make the most of your stay, keep an eye out for the offers for hotel reservations! Take a look at some QE2 Dubai offers below we think you’ll love:

THE UAE RESIDENTS’ OFFER

This amazing offer is the perfect way for UAE residents to experience the QE2 Hotel! Book your stay aboard the ship and get:

  • 15% off the flexible rate available online
  • Enjoy complimentary buffet breakfast for two
  • Upgrade yourself to the next room category
  • Receive 25% off food and beverage during your stay!

You’ll also get entry to the brand-new Laguna Waterpark at an exclusive rate of AED 180 for two. It doesn’t get better than that!

STAY AND SPLASH

Book your stay through this offer and receive complimentary access to the thrilling Laguna Waterpark at La Mer, where you can surf, splash, slide and more!

Other Restaurants in Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel Dubai

Other restaurants at QE2 Dubai

  The Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai is home to 13 restaurants, cafés and bars, which serve sumptuous British cuisine. Apart from the ones mentioned above, keep an eye out for The Chart Room. Here, you can sip house beverages and try the classic fish and chips, while observing old world maps used by former captains of the QE2 Dubai. Or head to The Pavilion, that offers alfresco dining for the whole family and stellar views of the city skyline. Lido, Gin Bar and Casino Coffee Lounge are QE2 Dubai dining options for visitors or hotel guests.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai Location

Location of QE2 Dubai

The Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai is permanently docked at Port Rashid Mina, just off Al Khaleej Road, and near the popular districts of Al Fahidi and Al Raffa. Centrally located in Dubai, the QE2 is easily accessible via car and metro. There is ample parking outside the QE2 Dubai terminal, and taxis are easily available there. The nearest metro station to the cruise liner is the Al Ghubaiba Station, which is part of Dubai Metro’s Green Line. If visitors are travelling via metro, it’s best to take a taxi from the Al Ghubaiba Station to QE2 Dubai.

The QE2 Dubai Contact Number

Visitors can inquire about reservations, general information and events through the contact number for Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai below:

  • General Information: 04 526 8888
  • Reservations: 600 500 400
  • Restaurant Reservations: 04 526 8811

Our Verdict

The Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel Dubai is a thrilling new experience that has quickly worked its way up the list of the city’s attractions! With sweeping views, charming restaurants and bars, nuggets of history and plenty of entertainment, a stay or visit aboard the QE2 Dubai will certainly be a novel experience for the whole family. 

Looking for more of Dubai’s mind-blowing attractions? Take a look at our review for the Museum of Illusions Dubai , where your senses will be tricked and deceived! Dazzled by the ship’s dining options? You may also love these amazing rooftop restaurants in Dubai , that also come with gorgeous views of the city! And follow MyBayut for articles on Dubai’s best attractions . 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

' src=

What’s the Future of Cryptocurrency in Real Estate: Survey

مطبخ حديث

5 budget-friendly upgrades to make your kitchen look luxurious

باص دبي الكبير

The complete guide to hop on hop off bus Dubai tours

  • Residential Plot

Sliding Sidebar

The Queen in Canada: 22 visits during her reign

Elizabeth made nearly 2 dozen official visits to canada since 1952.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Social Sharing

The Queen, who died Thursday at her Balmoral estate  in Scotland, made 22 official visits to Canada after ascending to the throne in 1952. Her first time here as Queen was in 1957, the last in 2010. During those years, she visited every province and territory. 

Here are some highlights from those visits.

1957: First visit, first live TV address

Prince Philip accompanied Elizabeth on her first official visit as Queen to Canada. The couple had visited previously in 1951 while Elizabeth was a princess.

They spent four days in Ottawa and the Queen became the first reigning sovereign to open the Canadian Parliament. 

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth opens Parliament in Ottawa: 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen opens Canada's Parliament

She delivered the throne speech for the 23rd Parliament on Oct. 14. 

WATCH | The full speech from the throne: 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Queen Elizabeth: 1957 Opening of Parliament

She also made a televised address, the first one she had done live, during which she praised Canada's population growth and strong currency.

The address was one of the first examples of the monarchy adapting new technologies during her reign. As communications evolved, attention continued to focus on the Queen's first forays on new platforms such as Twitter or Instagram. 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

1964: An angry reception in Quebec

The Queen and Prince Philip visited Charlottetown, Quebec City and Ottawa. 

She was invited by the prime minister to attend the centennial of two 1864 pre-Confederation conferences in Charlottetown and Quebec City. Elizabeth was warmly welcomed to Charlottetown, but when she got to Quebec City, she was greeted by anti-monarchist and separatist protesters. 

WATCH | Protesters greet Queen Elizabeth: 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Protests greet the Queen in Quebec

Quebec's relationship with the monarchy wasn't always strained. When the Queen's father, King George VI, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, visited in 1939, they received a warm welcome, as Canadians rallied in support of the war effort.

But the emergence of Quebec nationalism and the Quiet Revolution led to the separatist movement, which was inherently republican. 

WATCH | CBC journalists Knowlton Nash and William Depoe talk about the incident on the news that night: 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Queen's visit to Quebec City marred by violence

It was a very different story upon her departure from Ottawa, though, as nearly 1,500 well-wishers turned out to see her off (Philip had left a few hours earlier).

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth leaves Canada after visiting in 1964:

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Queen departs after 1964 visit to Canada

1967: the centennial and a huge cake.

The year 1967 was significant for Canada. The country was marking its centennial and the Queen was there for celebrations on Parliament Hill. 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

She delivered a speech that day, describing Canada as "a nation that has grown and prospered in an atmosphere of freedom where differences are respected and where the rights of individual men and women to work out their own salvations have never been long denied."  

You can watch here full speech from that day here . 

  • Do you have a personal connection, story or memory to share about Queen Elizabeth? Do you have any questions about what happens next? Send an email to  [email protected] .

After their time in Ottawa, the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Montreal, arriving there on July 3 to visit Expo 67.

There was some concern about how the royal couple would be received in Quebec, given the protests just a few years earlier. But on this visit, they got a warm reception. 

They visited the British and Canadian pavilions and toured the full site on the Expo minirail.  

1976: The whole family cheers on Anne

If the Montreal Olympics weren't reason enough for the Queen to visit Canada in 1976, she and her family, who accompanied her on the trip, had the added bonus of seeing their daughter and sister Anne competing on the British equestrian team.

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The visit was noteworthy because it was the only time the Queen's entire immediate family was in the country at the same time. Prince Philip and Anne's brothers Charles, Andrew and Edward were also on hand to cheer Anne on.

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth opens the Olympics in Montreal:

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen opens the 1976 Olympics

The Queen also visited New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on this trip. 

1982: The Constitution and a mystery giggle

The Queen returned to Canada in 1982 for the proclamation of the Constitution. An estimated 32,000 people came out in the rain in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 for the ceremony on Parliament Hill. 

And there was a memorable moment during the ceremony that was only reported years later. While signing the document after the Queen, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau broke the tip of the pen. When the justice minister, Jean Chrétien, went to sign it, he couldn't, and uttered "merde," causing the Queen to laugh. He was forced to reach for a second pen. 

WATCH | The signing ceremony for the proclamation of the Constitution (the moment when the Queen laughs begins at about the 1:56 mark): 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen proclaims the Constitution Act

Following the signing, the Queen delivered a speech, stating, "Today I have proclaimed this new Constitution, one that is truly Canadian at last. There could be no better moment for me as Queen of Canada to declare again my unbounded confidence in the future of this wonderful country."

WATCH | The Queen's full speech: 

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen's speech after proclaiming the Constitution Act

2002: golden jubilee with a twist of controversy.

Her 2002 visit to Canada was part of a year of celebration for the Queen as she marked 50 years as monarch.

Elizabeth came to Canada as part of her Golden Jubilee tour — which also took her to New Zealand, Australia and Jamaica — and thanked Canadians for their "loyalty, encouragement and support" during her reign.

But there was a bit of controversy courtesy of Canada's deputy prime minister, who was assigned to be her escort in Ottawa during the visit.

John Manley had said that he hoped to see the end of the monarchy in Canada after Elizabeth's reign.

WATCH | The Queen presents a horse to the RCMP following a performance of the Musical Ride:

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen gives the RCMP a horse

2010: the final visit to a place like 'home'.

The Queen's final visit to Canada was in 2010. She visited five cities and spent Canada Day in Ottawa with about 100,000 others on Parliament Hill.

"This nation has dedicated itself to being a caring home for its own, a sanctuary for others and an example to the world," she said during the visit.

Elizabeth visited Canada more times as Queen than any other Commonwealth country. And she referred to Canada as "home" as she arrived in Halifax — a term she used throughout her reign when speaking of this country. 

WATCH | The Queen's last speech on Canada Day from Parliament Hill:

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen on Canada Day

WATCH | A collection of highlights from the Queen's visits to Canada from 1957 to 2010:

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen in Canada 1957-1976

queen elizabeth 2 tour

The Queen in Canada 1977-2010

  • Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state, dead at 96
  • With Queen Elizabeth's death, Canada prepares for an official mourning period

Related Stories

  • Friends and admirers remember Brian Mulroney for momentous policies that changed Canada
  • Brian Mulroney: The life and times of Canada's 18th prime minister
  • Why multi-generational living is becoming more common in Canada
  • Confusion reigns as Catherine reportedly to attend June event, Charles to miss Commonwealth Day

Attraction tickets | TicketLens

  • Queen Elizabeth 2 Museum
  • TicketLens: Compare Prices

Anneliese O'Malley

4 tips for visiting the Queen Elizabeth 2 Museum

The qe2: ship of history, ship of dreams, dining opportunities on the qe2, the pavilion, the yacht club, the golden lion, the chart room, the grand lounge, frequently asked questions, what are the tour options on the qe2, what is there to see onboard the qe2, general information, opening hours, how to get there.

Anneliese O'Malley

  • Skip to main content
  • Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

An audio tour of Queen Elizabeth meeting 13 U.S. Presidents across seven decades

Don

An audio tour of Queen Elizabeth II's meetings with 13 different U.S. presidents in her seven decades on the throne.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

The death of Queen Elizabeth II closes a chapter in British history that lasted seven decades. And over that time, the queen met 13 U.S. presidents. NPR's Don Gonyea has highlights.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

DON GONYEA, BYLINE: Princess Elizabeth landed in America for the first time in 1951, less than a year before she would become queen. President Harry Truman met her on the tarmac.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

HARRY TRUMAN: And on behalf of the government and the people of the United States, I bid you a most hearty welcome.

GONYEA: She would return to the U.S. six years later as queen, this time meeting President Eisenhower. Then in 1961, Elizabeth hosted her president.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: The crowd surged forward for a look at President and Mrs. Kennedy as they arrive for a private dinner at the palace with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

GONYEA: The audio is from the United States Information Service. But that visit by the Kennedys was widely reported to have been more than a bit awkward. In fact, it inspired the storyline for an episode of the Netflix series "The Crown" in 2017 with the drama enhanced, to be sure. That series showed the queen getting word of dismissive comments uttered by Jackie Kennedy.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "THE CROWN")

SAM CRANE: (As Patrick Plunket) That she found Buckingham Palace second-rate, dilapidated and sad like a neglected provincial hotel.

GONYEA: The next president, Lyndon Johnson, is the only one Elizabeth did not meet. There's no definitive explanation as to why, but the meetings resumed with Richard Nixon.

GONYEA: President Gerald Ford would welcome the queen in a ceremony on the White House lawn. The occasion was America's bicentennial, marking its break with the crown.

GERALD FORD: Your Majesty, the wounds of our parting in 1776 healed long ago. Americans admire the United Kingdom as one of our truest allies and best friends.

GONYEA: The queen described that past as long-buried.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: What is more important is that our shared language, traditions and history have given us a common vision of what is right and just.

GONYEA: Jimmy Carter visited the palace a year later. Then, it was Ronald Reagan, the president with whom the queen seemed most comfortable. They went horseback riding together outside Windsor Castle, and Reagan later welcomed the queen to his home state of California, including a dinner in her honor, in San Francisco.

RONALD REAGAN: And ladies and gentlemen, happily conscious of the honor that is ours tonight, I ask you to join me in a toast to Her Majesty The Queen.

GONYEA: President George H.W. Bush entertained the queen on her next U.S. visit. He took her to a Major League Baseball game in Baltimore. The queen even held a receiving line with players in the Orioles dugout. Such moments are symbolic and more. While presidents discuss policy with British prime ministers, with the monarch, it's more about friendship and shared national values.

Elizabeth met Bill Clinton three times. When George W. Bush was at the palace in 2003, the niceties of that visit were overshadowed by huge street demonstrations over the war in Iraq. Four years later, Bush would host Elizabeth at the White House where violinist Itzhak Perlman entertained at a state dinner.

ITZHAK PERLMAN: (Playing violin).

GONYEA: Proper etiquette is always paramount with the royals. Missteps do happen, though. When President and Michelle Obama were at the palace, at one point, the first lady put her arm around the queen, an affectionate gesture. But hugging the monarch is not something you're supposed to do. Then, there was President Trump's inspection of the royal guard on the palace grounds in 2019.

GONYEA: It was an important ceremonial moment, and Trump seemed to cut right in front of the queen, blocking her path. This is royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams talking to CNN.

RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS: Now, if you actually looked at the way that was handled, it appeared that the president was, inadvertently no doubt, blocking out the queen. It was...

GONYEA: British tabloids took great notice. But with both Mrs. Obama and President Trump, the queen appeared not to take offense. Now to 2021, an economic summit brought President Biden to the U.K. Every president before him who had met the queen had also met Prince Philip, who died two months before Biden's visit. As he began a major speech to the summit, Biden used the moment to first pay tribute to the queen's husband of 73 years.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Today would have been Prince Philip's 100th birthday. I know there are a lot of people feeling his absence today.

GONYEA: Days later, the queen had Biden and the first lady to the castle for tea. Afterward, Biden told reporters that she had been gracious and that she reminded him a bit of his own mother. He was the 13th U.S. president Elizabeth would meet. Don Gonyea, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE OLYMPIANS' "PLUTO'S LAMENT")

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Queen Elizabeth 2

queen elizabeth 2 tour

  • See all photos

queen elizabeth 2 tour

City Sightseeing Dubai Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Dubai City Tour with Gold Souq, Old Dubai, Jumeirah Beach

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Stephen F

Queen Elizabeth 2 - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Welcome to the QE2

Queen Elizabeth 2 is a historic gem and the only floating hotel in Dubai.

Located in Port Rashid, the QE2 is minutes away from the beach, the metro and near Dubai Downtown, home to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall . Dubai International Airport is a short drive away.

Discover the rich history of the hotel featuring 447 distinctive rooms and suites, suitable for business travellers and couples, and designed to meet all your needs.

Indulge in international specialties at Lido restaurant, enjoy drinks and snacks at Golden Lion – the oldest pub in Dubai, or unwind with afternoon tea at the Queens Grill.

Keep up with your fitness routine in our gym and indoor pool, enjoy world-class performances in our licensed theatre, or explore Dubai’s attractions with our complimentary shuttle bus.

Check-in Time

Rooms & Suites

Heritage tour, meetings & events, theater by qe2, a journey through time, special offers, iftar al malika, group iftar & suhoor, qe2 ramadan staycation, romantic voyage, dine & explore, best available rate, royal afternoon tea, the qe2’s location.

Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel is located in Port Rashid offering easy access to Dubai International Airport and Dubai’s key attractions.

Nearby points of interests

Dubai international airport, palm jumeirah, mall of emirates, burj al arab, burj khalifa, sign up to receive updates on special offers, events and news..

Queen Elizabeth 2 Mina Rashid P.O. Box 6769 Dubai, UAE

  • Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

The Alarming Findings Inside a Mass Shooter’s Brain

An attack by an army reservist prompted a search for answers about whether the soldier’s service could have been a factor..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.” [MUSIC PLAYING]

A mass shooting last fall by an army reservist in Maine prompted my colleague, Dave Philipps, to search for answers about whether the soldier’s service could have been a factor. Today, the surprising answer Dave found and how it may change our understanding of the effects of modern warfare on the human brain.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

It’s Wednesday, March 13.

So, Dave, you’ve been working on a series of stories on injuries to soldiers in the US military. And last week, there was a sudden and unexpected discovery related to that reporting you’d been doing. Tell me about it.

So what I’ve been looking into for a couple of months was the idea that soldiers can be injured just by firing their own weapons, by standing next to the blast of a mortar or launching a rocket from a shoulder-fired rocket launcher. Some of these big, heavy weapons, the blast wave is strong enough to really injure their brains.

And I’d been working on that over a couple of months because it’s very new. And there’s a lot of uncertain stuff. And I was still working on it in October when I got a call from “The New York Times” national desk. And they said, hey, there’s been a mass shooting in Maine. We need your help. The suspect was in the military. So I dropped everything and got on it.

Right, because you’re the guy who covers military affairs. So they call you.

Right. And the situation was that there’s a 40-year-old man in Maine named Robert Card. He’d been a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserves for almost 20 years. And he killed several people in a small town in Maine, Lewiston, in a restaurant and in a bowling alley. Then he goes on the Lam. And the whole region is in lockdown for two days. And after a massive manhunt, they eventually find his body 15 minutes away from the shooting site. He had shot himself in the head.

And in the aftermath, his family said that he had been hearing voices. It started right after he had gotten some hearing aids last spring. And he grew to have these nearly constant paranoid delusions that people at the supermarket, people on the street, even people in his own family were saying terrible things about him, essentially saying that he was a pedophile. And he grew obsessed with these delusions that just simply were not happening.

The Army saw this and they tried to intervene. And in fact, he was actually hospitalized for two weeks by the Army. But ultimately, it was not enough. And he committed these shootings, which killed 18 people. And so whenever any veteran is involved in any crime, our first move is generally to ask the Pentagon for that person’s background. We want to know, is there anything in their military record that can help us understand the present by looking at their military past?

And so did you find anything in this Maine shooter’s military records?

In the case of Robert Card, the answer is really no. Remember, we’ve been at war for more than 20 years. And more than a million people have deployed, many of them multiple times. He had been in the military that whole time and he had never deployed.

Never in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Never in Iraq or Afghanistan. Never even in Germany or Korea.

And he also had a really humdrum job. The official title for it was Petroleum Supply Specialist.

What does that mean?

Essentially, you’re the gas guy, who makes sure that the tanks, and the Humvees, and everything else has enough fuel to run. Pretty dull. And so there was nothing at all in his service that suggested it had anything to do with what had happened.

So at this point, you’re like, OK, nothing to see here. This mass shooting is probably totally unrelated to his time in the military because he never deployed?

Well, not quite. I actually picked up one thing that I thought might be really tied to this and potentially extremely important. And that was his hearing aids.

What was it about his hearing aids?

Well, here’s a guy who’s 40 years old, a young, fit guy who has hearing aids. I would expect that from somebody who worked around artillery cannons or worked around mortars, worked around tanks. In the military, you see it all the time. But this guy didn’t seem to have any of that. He’s like a petroleum supply guy. And so I was thinking, OK, something here doesn’t make sense.

And I was able to track down some people who had actually served next to Robert Card in his platoon. And they said, yes, he had been a petroleum supply specialist years ago. But in 2014, he switched over to a training battalion, where he was exposed to lots and lots of blasts. And basically, what this battalion did is, every summer, they held a summer camp for cadets at West Point that taught them how to use all sorts of weapons, taught them how to use machine guns, grenade launchers, shoulder-fired rockets, and hand grenades.

And that’s where Robert Card worked, I learned. Every year in the summer, he was on the hand grenade range, where about 1,200 cadets would come through. And most of them threw two grenades. So every year, he’s getting exposed in the course of a few weeks to 2,000 grenade blasts. Now, according to the military, this is safe. This is fine. No problem. Move along.

But emerging research, like the stuff that I’ve been reporting about in the previous months, had shown that this repetitive blast from firing your own weapons can be really damaging. And so I thought, OK, Robert Card was exposed to a lot of blasts. Maybe that could help explain what happened to him.

So what did you do next? How do you start to answer that question?

Well, we knew that the answer would be in Robert Card’s brain, that if he did have a brain injury from repeated blast exposure, you can see it. And what I learned soon after was that the Maine State Medical Examiner knew that too. And in fact, after he died, they had saved his brain and then shipped it to Boston, where one of the best brain labs that looks at traumatic brain injury is at Boston University. These folks specialize specifically in documenting CTE in football players and other contact sports athletes.

So, Dave, is the thinking here that maybe Robert Card had something like CTE, that it’s that kind of injuries like we see in football players?

Well, they didn’t know. And the only way to figure it out was to essentially slice his brain into slices that are about the tenth of a thickness of a piece of paper. And then they look at it under two microscopes, a normal optical microscope and a really detailed electron microscope that can look at things on a subcellular level.

And in the first microscope, they’re looking for CTE, which is easy to see. They can stain it brown and it creates these floral patterns around blood vessels in the brain. But when they looked at it, they didn’t find that. And if you’re just exposed to blast, maybe that’s not a big surprise because the research suggests that blast exposure leads to something else, something that really doesn’t have an accepted name yet, but in a sense is damage to the wiring that’s deep in the brain.

And under the second microscope, that’s essentially what they found in Robert Card’s brain. And what they’re looking at is the cables in the brain. So your brain has outside of the brain gray matter, which is where thoughts happen. And inside the brain is white matter that is essentially wiring that connects all that gray matter together. So it can talk to itself. It can understand itself. It can act.

But it turns out that when blast waves surge through the brain, those long, stringy pieces of white matter essentially get whipped really hard, hard enough that they get frayed or broken. Think of it like the cable you use to charge your iPhone. You can twist that, and twist it up, and untwist it, and it’ll be fine.

But it’s the repetitive over and over that causes problems. So imagine twisting your iPhone cable 10,000 times. And then it might still be there, but you plug it in and it doesn’t work anymore. And so that’s what they’re looking at in Robert Card’s brain.

So the results were definitive. Despite never having served in combat, Card really suffered pretty severe brain damage from these repetitive blasts at this training camp, it seems like.

Right. And we have to be careful because we can’t definitively say with Robert Card right now that not only those grenade blasts caused this injury, but that injury caused his behavior. What we can say is that it’s a very, very good match. It certainly seems that that’s the case.

And, Dave, what is the implication of this?

Well, this is something that means so much more than just what happened to Robert Card or what happened in a shooting in Maine. And that’s because, for years, the military has known that blasts from combat, from roadside bombs, from enemy attacks are dangerous and they can damage the brain.

But they haven’t known what the effect of training is because most of the people who served in the military also went overseas. They might have gotten hit by an IED. They might have experienced something traumatic in combat. And so if they come back with brain injuries, it’s very hard to say, are those brain injuries tied to firing their own weapons?

But Robert Card’s almost like a control study. We know that he never went overseas. He also never played football in high school. He was never in a serious car accident. He didn’t do a lot of things that could have caused a brain injury to him. As far as we know, the only thing that could have damaged his brain is this blast injury of working on the grenade range. And so if that is true, that means that a lot of the brain injury that is happening in the military is being caused by the military. That’s a big deal.

We’ll be right back.

So, Dave, what exactly did the military know about brain damage caused by blasts? And when did it know it?

Well, it starts with the IUD problem. During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, around 2005, 2006, if you remember, roadside bombs were the leading way that insurgents were hurting American forces.

And so the United States poured a ton of money into trying to understand, OK, these blasts that these guys are experiencing, these men and women, they appear fine. They get up and walk away. But there’s something going on there.

It’s not like you’re missing a limb or something. So when someone walks by, you may look absolutely normal. But it’s a very invisible wound.

The military started gathering these stories and even shared some of these interviews.

When I came home, I was not the same person.

And when I got out, I didn’t think that I had any issues or mental health issues that would affect me in the civilian life. I found that I was having trouble controlling my emotions, sometimes, my anger.

Soldiers were coming home complaining to military leaders of all sorts of problems, feeling different, acting different, thinking different.

I ended up losing a job because I was getting violent. I started another job, was getting violent there. I was real irritable, hard to deal with.

I was self-medicating, trying to hide feelings and things like that. I had the suicidal thoughts.

They’re almost coming back as different people. And the Defense Department poured hundreds of millions of dollars into this starting probably around 2008, trying to answer the question of, what kind of blast is dangerous? And why? And they started getting answers, but it was still really murky. And so in 2012, they set up a brain bank to essentially collect brains from anyone and everyone they could get who was in uniform because this injury couldn’t be seen through an MRI, through a PET scan, through the normal things that we think of for imaging the brain. It was too subtle.

But you could slice it up and see it in the brain. And what they were seeing was this telltale scarring in the white matter. And at the same time, there were a lot of families that got results back from this brain bank and saw that characteristic scarring in the white matter. And they knew that their loved ones had been affected by blast. And they also knew that enemy blasts were only a small fraction of what their loved one experienced. And so how could you untangle? What was training caused? And what was caused by the enemy?

And so a lot of these families, they started taking this information to Congress. In 2018, they said to Congress, the military is not taking blasts seriously enough. They don’t understand it. They can’t tell who’s injured. They need to do something. Congress at that point passed a law forcing the military to look at this research and figure out how we can track this. But here we are in 2024 and a lot of those questions are still not answered.

And then, of course, came Card, which seems to give us something of a new data point, a new answer.

That’s right, because the military, for all of this time, they had been saying, well, this is complicated. We did some studies, but we still don’t have clear answers. And they would hem and haw and essentially use the lack of a definitive answer as a way to postpone action. But here’s Robert Card. And he’s really important because the only thing he’s been exposed to is grenade blasts. And that’s supposed to be safe.

Something did happen after all those years of research. The military, they finally put in place a safety threshold that basically said, above this power of blast, there could be hazard. And they use a number for that. They measure blasts in four pounds per square inch. That’s the strength of the blast wave hitting anybody.

But you can think of that four as a safety level. Anything higher, probably dangerous. Anything lower, supposed to be safe. And that’s why Card is so important because, if he was only exposed to grenades and he has a blast injury, those grenades come in not at four, not even at 3.9. They come in at one PSI or maybe 1 and a half. So that suggests that this safety threshold that got put in place is way off.

And that’s really important, not just for Robert Card, but for all sorts of troops who are training right now because there are many weapons out there, mortars, shoulder-fired rocket launchers, big artillery that come in at higher levels, some of them as high as eight or nine PSI. And what that threshold doesn’t take into account is that we’re not just talking about one blast. We’re talking about hundreds or thousands of blasts. And how does that change how any blast is a threat or a hazard?

So essentially, all of this study and research didn’t actually translate into procedures that kept soldiers safer.

Right. It’s sometimes frustrating for me to see this research because there are brilliant people who are building computer models that model how energy waves go through brain matter. Or they are very carefully blowing up lab rats and then cutting open their brains to see the effects. And none of that expensive and time-consuming research has many — any difference to the people in uniform.

Dave, how many vets are we talking about here? How many people may be suffering or at risk of this kind of brain damage? Do we know the scale here?

That’s a really hard question to answer. We know that more than 450,000 people have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury by the military since 2000. But that probably leaves out tens of thousands of people who, like Robert Card, were exposed to repeated blasts and may have a brain injury, but never were diagnosed.

So the universe is potentially very large.

That’s why this is such a huge deal.

Dave, stepping back for a second, it seems like what we’re learning here through this example of Robert Card is bringing us into a moment where we’re rethinking what it means to have combat trauma, that it might actually have a lot more to do with the physical blast than with the mental or psychological trauma that one goes through in, say, a combat deployment.

One thing that I’ve been reporting about for years is when soldiers come home different and why. And I started out really focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder and just the horror of war and how that can change and erode your character. And then I learned that traumatic brain injury can be a big part of that and that those two things may be tangled together in ways that are impossible to unravel.

But what’s really interesting about Robert Card and other people I’ve talked to who’ve never deployed, but they’ve been around a lot of blasts, is if you sent them into a typical Army clinic and had them list their symptoms, they would probably get diagnosed with PTSD. They’re sleepless. They have anxiety. They have panic attacks. They are socially withdrawn. They’re depressed.

So there are all these things that we have long thought are products of war, of combat, that may actually be an underlying condition that is not related to war at all. To put it in the plainest terms possible, it’s basically related to a workplace safety issue that we haven’t acknowledged or addressed.

So when Johnny comes home different from the war, it might not actually be the war.

It might not actually be the war.

But I also think that there’s a broader implication beyond the military. And we can see it in Robert Card. Here was a man whose blast injury wasn’t understood, who did something horrendous. And so I think we have to think about, what is the cost of not doing anything here? Now, of course, we don’t know for sure that Robert Card did this because of his blast injury. But we do know that he had profound injuries deep in his brain.

And we also know from talking to people that he served with that it’s not just Robert Card. Other people that served with him on the grenade range are also struggling. A number of them are getting help for pretty persistent mental health problems. And one of his best friends was just recently hospitalized for a psychiatric crisis. And he’s now facing a domestic violence charge. So how do we look at those people differently now after seeing Card? And how do we look at this problem in a way that tries to prevent that from happening?

Dave, I’m curious if you’ve heard from the family of Robert Card since his diagnosis. And I wonder what this diagnosis has meant to them, if anything.

Well, they didn’t get a choice when his brain went to the lab. That was the decision of the state, which really wanted to understand in whatever way it could what had happened. But when they got these results back and the family sat around their kitchen table listening to the doctor who had looked into his brain and learned there was damage, in a way that I think was really surprising to them, it allowed them to have some forgiveness, to not see their brother, their son, as a monster, but to see him as somebody who was hurt.

It gives them a different story about their brother.

Absolutely.

Dave, thank you.

Here’s what else you should know today.

My assessment in the report about the relevance of the president’s memory was necessary, and accurate, and fair.

On Tuesday, in a tense appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, former special counsel Robert Hur testified about his investigation and February report into President Biden’s handling of classified documents.

You could have written your report with comments about his specific recollection as to documents or a set of documents. But you chose a general pejorative reference to the president.

The four-hour session quickly descended into a brutal partisan fight. In his report, Hur had called Biden, quote, “An elderly man with a poor memory,” a conclusion that had infuriated Democrats. Republicans, for their part, grilled Hur about his conclusion that the evidence was insufficient to charge Biden with a crime —

Here’s what I see, Biden and Trump should have been treated equally. They weren’t. And that is the double standard that I think a lot of Americans are concerned about.

— and accused Hur of protecting Biden.

You exonerated him.

— would be a conviction.

I know that —

It did not exonerate him.

— the term willful retention has a —

That word does not appear in the report, Congresswoman.

Mr. Hur, it’s my time.

But Hur made clear during the testimony that his report had not cleared Biden of wrongdoing, rejecting a suggestion by Democrats that it had. Today’s episode was produced by Jessica Cheung, Clare Toeniskoetter, and Olivia Natt, with help from Sydney Harper. It was edited by MJ Davis Lin, contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

The Daily logo

  • March 14, 2024   •   28:21 It Sucks to Be 33
  • March 13, 2024   •   27:44 The Alarming Findings Inside a Mass Shooter’s Brain
  • March 12, 2024   •   27:30 Oregon Decriminalized Drugs. Voters Now Regret It.
  • March 11, 2024   •   29:07 The Billionaires’ Secret Plan to Solve California’s Housing Crisis
  • March 10, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘Can Humans Endure the Psychological Torment of Mars?’
  • March 8, 2024   •   29:40 The State of the Union
  • March 7, 2024   •   32:31 The Miseducation of Google’s A.I.
  • March 6, 2024   •   23:07 The Unhappy Voters Who Could Swing the Election
  • March 5, 2024   •   32:02 A Deadly Aid Delivery and Growing Threat of Famine in Gaza
  • March 4, 2024   •   26:06 An F.B.I. Informant, a Bombshell Claim, and an Impeachment Built on a Lie
  • March 3, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘How Tom Sandoval Became the Most Hated Man in America’
  • March 1, 2024   •   32:33 Biden, Trump and a Split Screen at the Texas Border

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Dave Philipps

Produced by Jessica Cheung ,  Clare Toeniskoetter and Olivia Natt

With Sydney Harper

Edited by M.J. Davis Lin

Original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence and self harm.

Last fall, an Army reservist killed 18 people at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, before turning the gun on himself.

Dave Philipps, who covers military affairs for The Times, had already been investigating the idea that soldiers could be injured just by firing their own weapons. Analyzing the case of the gunman in Lewiston, Dave explains, could change our understanding of the effects of modern warfare on the human brain.

On today’s episode

queen elizabeth 2 tour

Dave Philipps , who covers war, the military and veterans for The New York Times.

Two people wearing military uniforms stand on a cement platform. One of them is throwing a grenade into a wooded area.

Background reading

Profound damage was found in the Lewiston gunman’s brain , possibly from explosions.

The finding has broad implications for treatment strategies in veterans and for criminal justice.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Dave Philipps writes about war, the military and veterans and covers The Pentagon. More about Dave Philipps

Advertisement

IMAGES

  1. Queen Elizabeth 2 Heritage Tour

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

  2. Queen Elizabeth 2 Heritage Tour

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

  3. Queen Elizabeth II continues Diamond Jubilee tour in Manchester

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

  4. Look Back at Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Most Memorable

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

  5. Kate Middleton at Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Tour in

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

  6. Queen Elizabeth II on a walkabout among the crowds in Aberdeen, during

    queen elizabeth 2 tour

VIDEO

  1. Queen Elizabeth 2

COMMENTS

  1. QE2 Heritage Tour in Dubai

    Step on board and back in time to discover the rich heritage of Queen Elizabeth 2. Our Heritage Tour is the perfect way to explore this iconic vessel. Complete your experience on board the QE2 with lunch after the 11:00 am tour or dinner after the 5:00 pm tour at Lido restaurant. Learn More

  2. List of Commonwealth visits made by Elizabeth II

    Presentation of a book of the Six Decades of H.M.The Queen's Commonwealth and State Visits, 18 December 2012. Queen Elizabeth II became Head of the Commonwealth upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952 and remained Head of the Commonwealth until her death on 8 September 2022.During that time, she toured the Commonwealth of Nations widely.

  3. The Queen's travels: Follow Elizabeth's trips through the decades

    December 19-20, 1953 Tonga. At Queen Elizabeth's coronation in June 1953, Queen Salote Tupou III of the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga won over the British public when she sat, rain-soaked, in her ...

  4. List of state visits made by Elizabeth II

    2 visits. 1 visit. Presentation of a book of the Six Decades of H.M. The Queen's Commonwealth and State Visits, 18 December 2012. Queen Elizabeth II undertook a number of state and official visits over her 70-year reign (1952 to 2022), [1] as well as trips throughout the Commonwealth, making her the most widely travelled head of state in history.

  5. Milestones of a Monarch: The Commonwealth Tour of 1953-1954

    The story of how Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne—that she went up a tree a princess and climbed back down a queen—and the aborted tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya that ...

  6. Queen Elizabeth's visits to the United States, in pictures

    Queen Elizabeth II and Vice President Richard Nixon tilt their heads for a better view of the oil paintings on the interior of the Capitol dome during a tour. AP Oct. 19, 1957 | College Park, Md.

  7. London: Life and Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II Private Tour

    Learn about Britain's longest reigning monarch on a special guided walking tour of London. Join your guide as you walk through the heart of Westminster to discover sights like St James's Palace, Downing Street, and more. In June 2022, the nation came together in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, and her unprecedented 70 ...

  8. QE2 Heritage Tour & Dine

    Dine & Explore. Step on board and back in time to discover the rich heritage of Queen Elizabeth 2. Our Heritage Tour is the perfect way to explore this iconic vessel. Complete your experience on board the QE2 with lunch after the 11:00 am tour or dinner after the 5:00 pm tour at Lido restaurant. 3 Course Lunch. Monday to Thursday, 11:00 am.

  9. London: Queen Elizabeth Tour & Buckingham Palace Ticket

    Upgrade your tour by adding pre-booked tickets to the Buckingham Palace. Full description. Embark on a journey through the life of her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II on this small group walking tour accompanied by a Royal London expert! You'll get to hear fascinating stories behind the longest serving British monarch such as her ...

  10. QE2 Afternoon Tea & Heritage Tour

    Enhance your afternoon tea experience at the Queens Grill restaurant by combining it with a captivating tour onboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2. Step back in time and discover the rich British heritage, intricate design and engineering, and fascinating maritime history of this legendary vessel while indulging in a delightful assortment of ...

  11. Queen Elizabeth 2 Heritage tour with Buffet Lunch

    Overview. Recall the days of one of the world's greatest ocean liners—the Queen Elizabeth 2—on a heritage lunch or dinner tour in Dubai. A transatlantic liner for 40 years, the QE2 carried figures such Princess Diana, and is now a historical attraction and hotel. Prebook to secure entry, and explore the on-shore exhibitions and on board.

  12. Photos of Queen Elizabeth II's historic trips show she was the most

    Queen Elizabeth II was the most well-traveled monarch in history. ... Five months after being crowned in 1953, the Queen flew to Bermuda as part of a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, a ...

  13. Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai Review: Restaurants, Tours & More!

    Take a tour of the extraordinary floating five-star hotel in the city, the Queen Elizabeth 2 Dubai! There's so much to do aboard this exciting attraction, from trying out fine-dining restaurants to indulging in relaxing massages. Find out all about timings, restaurants, hotel stay offers and more aboard the QE2 Dubai!

  14. Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park

    The Queen Elizabeth II botanical garden is worth a visit! The gardens are well maintained and beautiful. ... As part of our cruise tour we were to visit the Crystal Caves but due some safety concerns after the Earthquake our tour ended up at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Botanic Park. Wow - what a lovely place to visit and totally unexpected. I loved ...

  15. The Queen in Canada: 22 visits during her reign

    Elizabeth made nearly 2 dozen official visits to Canada since 1952. Queen Elizabeth is saluted by an RCMP officer before boarding her plane in Toronto on July 6, 2010. (Darren Calabrese/The ...

  16. Queen Elizabeth 2 Museum

    The Queen Elizabeth 2, better known as the QE2, was an ocean liner owned and operated by Cunard Line from 1969 to 2008. The mighty ship has been docked in Dubai since 2008 and operating as a floating hotel and tourist attraction since 2018. Visitors can take the Heritage Tour of the vessel or enjoy a meal in one of the ship's restaurants and ...

  17. An audio tour of Queen Elizabeth meeting 13 U.S. Presidents across

    An audio tour of Queen Elizabeth II's meetings with 13 different U.S. presidents in her seven decades on the throne. The death of Queen Elizabeth II closes a chapter in British history that lasted ...

  18. Inside Balmoral Castle: Queen Elizabeth II's summer residence

    Balmoral Castle, the royal residence in the Scottish Highlands where Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days as England's longest-serving monarch, is also wh...

  19. Queen Elizabeth 2

    Dubai City Tour with Gold Souq, Old Dubai, Jumeirah Beach. 4. Historical Tours. 4-5 hours. The magnificent and beautiful structures built on Dubai's land, forming a portion of man-made wonders between its desert…. Free cancellation. from. $150. per group.

  20. Queen Elizabeth 2

    Welcome to the QE2. Queen Elizabeth 2 is a historic gem and the only floating hotel in Dubai. Located in Port Rashid, the QE2 is minutes away from the beach, the metro and near Dubai Downtown, home to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall . Dubai International Airport is a short drive away. Discover the rich history of the hotel featuring 447 distinctive ...

  21. Queen Elizabeth II on board QE2

    The eye-catching sculpture stayed on board Queen Elizabeth 2 throughout her career, before being transferred to the new Queen Elizabeth. It now stands proudly in the reception of the QE2 Museum in Dubai. As their time on board came to an end, Her Majesty complimented Cunard on the excellent condition of the ship and wished her a happy maiden ...

  22. Queen Elizabeth Ship Tour

    Queen Elizabeth Ship Tour full walkthrough Cunardクイーン エリザベス シップ ツアーQueen Elizabeth Ship Tour full walkthrough CunardOur full ship tour walkthrough was filmed...

  23. The Alarming Findings Inside a Mass Shooter's Brain

    An attack by an Army reservist prompted a search for answers about whether the soldier's service could have been a factor. March 13, 2024. 4. Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise. Featuring Dave Philipps ...