From Her Majesty’s favourite Bermudian beach, to following in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth during the 1947 South African royal tour, MMGY Hills Balfour handpicks a list of the top destinations to travel to over the upcoming Jubilee weekend in June 2022
During almost 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has travelled more widely than any other monarch in British history. From State visits to Commonwealth tours and visiting historic destinations, MMGY Hills Balfour has handpicked how to follow in her footsteps through some of her most intriguing international visits below as well as quirky destinations to visit in June.
South Africa
Follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth herself on a two-week tour of beautiful South Africa, which she visited as a young princess with her parents and sister, King George VI, his Queen Consort and Princess Margaret. She turned 21 during the tour, declaring that “my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong”. As part of the royal itinerary, visit Cape Town’s many charms as the Royals did, wander the winelands, and jump on a tram for a hop-on-hop-off tour of some of the most revered wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley. Hit the open road on the Garden Route on the way to Knysna, perched in a forest-enclosed lagoon. Round off this incredible journey with a three-day safari on the Eastern Cape. Africa’s rarest wildlife awaits, discoverable by nature drives, river cruises, and bush walks.
To book, call Abercrombie & Kent on 01242 547 760 or visit www.abercrombiekent.co.uk.
Bahrain
In 1979, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Bahrain – the first ever visit by a female Head of State! The King of Bahrain presented Queen Elizabeth II with two purebred Arabian horses at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in recognition of her efforts to promote Bahraini-British relations and bolster deep-rooted historic cooperation. Events included an official welcome, horse racing, a visit to an exhibition of local crafts at Budaiya Park and a tour of the Bahrain Museum at Muharraq. Only a six hour flight from the UK, Bahrain is the perfect place to enjoy history, culture and sunshine. Often mistakenly overlooked by glitzy Dubai, Bahrain has so much more diversity to offer. For starters it is the only island country in the Middle East, providing an idyllic haven on its white sandy beaches, year-round sunshine, UNESCO world heritage sites, luxurious hotels, a plethora of cultural sites, pearl diving, world class shopping and the F1.
For more information visit bahrain.com
Bermuda
As the United Kingdom’s oldest colony, the island of Bermuda has had the pleasure of welcoming many members of the Royal family over the years. Since her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II has visited the island four times and visitors can follow in the Her Majesty’s footsteps by exploring Bermuda’s rich and undeniably British heritage at St Peter’s Church, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and visiting the stunning mural of Bermuda at the Maritime Museum at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Sandys Parish which was unveiled by the Queen herself in 2009. Bermuda’s leading hotel, an 1883 visit from Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise, inspired the “Princess” part of the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s name – a hotel renowned for serving afternoon tea fit for royalty, offering delicious English teas and finger sandwiches upon three-foot high silver trays. Travellers may also choose to adorn the same Bermudan shorts gifted to Prince Phillip during Bermuda’s 400th anniversary to get a true grasp of island style.
To book, call 0344 493 0120 or visit www.gotobermuda.co.uk
San Francisco
It was 2 March 1983 that Queen Elizabeth made a rare U.S. visit as she and Prince Philip embarked on a multi-day tour through the west coast, which included several stops in the Bay Area, San Francisco. The royal couple visited Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on a rainy day kicking off their tour, and their trip culminated in “Queen’s Day” where spectators waved goodbye to the royal couple as they boarded the Britannia. Utterly thrilling, between its quirky neighborhoods, rich cultural history, and thriving culinary scene, the charms of San Francisco are many and well-known. Few cities can rival San Francisco for a sense of expansive nature within the city limits. In fact San Francisco is the greenest city in the U.S. The adventurous spirit that made San Francisco what it is today thrives in the new restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries sprinkled throughout what is, arguably, the most beautiful city in the U.S. June is a great time to visit to take part in San Francisco Pride LGBTQ+ festivities.
To book, call Trailfinders on 020 7368 1200 or visit trailfinders.com
Mauritius
Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, visited Mauritius for three days in 1972, as part of a tour of Asia and Africa. This visit was notably the first ever visit to the island by a reigning monarch. Clearly a destination fit for royalty, guests can enjoy miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches, almost entirely encircled by coral reefs – the ultimate sanctuary for those who want to spend days lounging on the beach. The crystal clear waters are perfect for diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and that’s just the beginning. What makes Mauritius different is that it has so much to offer beyond the beach. Whether it’s skydiving out of a plane, hiking through the mountains and National Parks or soaking up the culture, this is truly a destination with something for everyone.
To book, call Elegant Resorts Reservations on 01244 897271 or visit www.elegantresorts.co.uk
Las Vegas
With the UK raring to get back to the entertainment capital of the world and the extra long weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, it is the perfect time to book a trip to explore all that Las Vegas has to offer. Las Vegas undoubtedly provides the perfect combination of world-class entertainment, adventure, culture and relaxation – from unmissable residency lineups with world-class musicians and unforgettable shows, top sporting events, festivals and pool parties to exploring the Grand Canyon by helicopter, dining in some of the world’s hottest restaurants and relaxing in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
To book, call Virgin Holidays on 0344 472 9646 or visit www.virgin holidays.co.uk
