Top 10 Spots You Might Catch a Glimpse of the Queen in Britain
NEW YORK,
June
30, 2010
-- Queen Elizabeth II is set for a flying visit to
New York City on July 6th, 2010,
causing a stir in the city and giving us a little royal fever. The Queen
is expected to pay her respects at Ground Zero and address the UN
General Assembly for the first time in 50 years.
If you don’t
catch a glimpse of Her Majesty here at home, there is always a chance of
spotting her in
Britain – if you know where to look.
VisitBritain,
the national tourist board for England,
Scotland and Wales,
highlights the top 10 spots American travelers might spot the Queen on
their next trip across the pond. For more information on planning a
royal trip to
Britain, travelers can go to
www.visitbritain.com
Top 10 Spots
you might catch a glimpse of the Queen in Britain
Buckingham Palace
London, England
Buckingham Palace is not only a London landmark but the official London residence of the
British monarch. Nineteen state rooms of the palace are open for public
viewing each summer, from late July through early October, with
complimentary audio tours. Visitors to the palace should be sure to keep
their eyes peeled; Her Majesty has been spotted strolling the gardens
with her Corgi dogs and is known to enjoy a sneaky peek at visitors
admiring her home.
Windsor Castle
Windsor,
England
Just a quick
jaunt by train from London, Windsor Castle is one of the Queen’s official
residences and where she spends most weekends. Open year-round, visitors
have been known to spot the Queen through the windows overlooking her
garden. Locals have also said they often see Her Majesty the Queen and
the Duke of Edinburgh departing down the long driveway in Windsor Great
Park. Your chances go up if
you visit around Easter, when she takes up residence for a month.
Anglesey,
Wales
The chances
of spotting the Queen in Wales
are on the rise with Prince William, her grandson, training in Anglesey to become a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
Prince William is said to be enjoying his time there, taking in the
beautiful Welsh scenery as he flies over Snowdonia National Park.
He has also been sampling the local cuisine – including an
Anglesey burger van, ‘The Flaming Grill,’ that he loved so
much he gave them the Royal Seal of Approval.
Balmoral Estate
Aberdeenshire,
Scotland
One of the
monarch’s favorite summertime retreats is Balmoral, set amongst the
magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside. Here you might spot the Queen as
your neighbor – as you can take up residence on the same property where
the Queen stays by renting a lovely cottage on the Balmoral estate. The
grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public from April 1
through July 30.
Queen’s Birthday Celebrations
London,
England
The Trooping
the Color is an annual event to mark the Queen’s official birthday. Held
every June in central London,
the Trooping the Color is the biggest royal event of the year with Her
Majesty the Queen always in attendance. Tickets for the parade are in
short supply but if you don’t manage to snag one for yourself, just
stand along The Mall, which runs from Buckingham Palace to Admiralty Arch for a great
chance of spotting the Queen.
Royal
Ascot
Ascot,
Berkshire, England
Attend the
horse races at Royal Ascot and there is always a good chance of spotting
the Queen and Prince Phillip in a horse drawn carriage during the Royal
procession. Dating back to 1711, these prestigious races are held
annually in the third week of June. Her Majesty is known to take a keen
interest in the historic Royal Ascot races and she has owned 20 winners
over the years.
Holyrood Palace
Edinburgh,
Scotland
Positioned at
the end of
Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace is used by the Queen for one week
at the beginning of each summer when she carries out a range of official
engagements and ceremonies. Steeped in history and perhaps best known as
the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, Holyrood Palace adds to the stunning scenery of the
Royal Mile and Her Majesty has often been spotted leaving Holyrood in
her car - chauffeur driven of course.
Chelsea Flower Show
London,
England
As Patron of
the Royal Horticultural Society, the Queen regularly attends the opening
of the Chelsea Flower Show. This event is a regular fixture in the Royal
calendar and Her Majesty is often accompanied by other Royals. If you
are in Britain in
late May, this is a great opportunity to possibly catch a glimpse of
Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
London,
England
2012 is set
to be an exciting year for Britain as host of the Summer Olympic and
Paralympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Celebrations for this
milestone have yet to be announced but will take place in June 2012.
There is guaranteed to be a hive of activity surrounding this landmark
occasion and plenty of opportunities to spot the Queen, possibly
accompanied by other members of the royal family.
Madame Tussauds
London,
England
If all else
fails there is always one place you are guaranteed to meet the Queen –
and even shake her hand!
Madame Tussauds, is a top London visitor attraction and just a stones throw away from
Regent’s Park and the bright lights of the West End.
Her Majesty can be spotted there, or at least a waxwork version of her,
along with the likes of Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their two
sons William and Harry. It might not be the real deal but it could be
the closest you’ll get so don’t forget your camera!
About
Dave's Pick