You don’t get much more British than the Royal Family and in honour of the Queen celebrating 60 years at the helm, there are plenty of Diamond Jubilee celebrations planned in 2012. To mark this momentous occasion, Queen Liz and Prince Philip are currently on an epic tour of the UK.
Clearly, Her Majesty likes to get out and about, as by the end of the year she’ll have covered almost every corner of the country from Glanusk Park and Glasgow to Sunderland and Salisbury. Travelling by car, aircraft, the Royal Train and the ship Leander, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s tour is currently attracting huge crowds wherever they go.
Manchester and Salford - 23th March
After beginning her tour in Leicester, the Queen (looking pretty in pink) travelled to Manchester on the royal train to be greeted by hundreds of flag-waving fans. After leaving Victoria Station, the Queen and Prince Philip delighted staff and students as they visited the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. The BBC Media Centre in Salford was next on Her Majesty’s itinerary before dining at the Manchester Town Hall for a tasty jubilee lunch feast.
The Queen at the Media City, by the University of Salford
North London - 29th March
After the excitement of Manchester, the royal party headed a bit closer to home with a trip to North London. After the obligatory smiling and waving at Valentine’s Park in Redbridge, the Queen made her way to a town hall and school in Harrow to continue the celebrations before heading back home in time for Coronation Street. Why not follow in royal footsteps and book one of the many London hotels in the area to spend a day admiring the beautiful mansion and gardens in Valentine’s Park?
Buckingham Palace, by flickr user Bex Walton
Wales - 26th-27th April
At the end of April, Wales is set to roll out the red carpet as the Queen is planning on spending a couple of days in the “land of song”. From visiting Cyfarthfa Castle Museum in Merthyr Tydfil to meeting members of the Welsh rugby team in Port Talbot, Her Majesty is in for an action-packed jaunt in Wales. Well-wishers and Royalty-buffs are sure to be booking into the various hotels in Cardiff to try and get a glimpse of the royal party, so why don’t you? Click here for some of the best deals.
Welsh Rugby team, by flickr user TruPlaces
Scotland - 2nd-6th July
The beginning of July sees the Queen and the Duke travelling back up north to spend a week in Scotland where they will discover the best of what Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth have to offer. Staying at the Palace of Holyrood House (the Queen’s official Scottish residence), the royal couple are sure to be kept busy during their trip here. With Edinburgh hotels to suit every budget, fans of the Royal Family will be able to stay close to all the regal action or alternatively visit some of the other landmarks in the Scottish capital such as Edinburgh Castle or the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, by flickr user Nigel Swales
Do let us know if you’ve been to see the Queen already on her Jubilee tour or if you’re planning on rubbing shoulders with royalty in the next couple of months. Leave us a comment below…