Canada: A Royal Honeymoon Destination

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's relationship was one of love, respect, and long-lasting admiration. The two first met at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1939 and tied the knot in 1947. But did they honeymoon in Canada? The couple spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire, which is the home of Philip’s uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. They then travelled to Birkhall on the Balmoral estate in Scotland. There is no evidence to suggest that they honeymooned in Canada.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's honeymoon in 1947

The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary by releasing a photo from their honeymoon, and on their 70th anniversary, they released new portraits. They also visited Malta for their second honeymoon due to the fond memories they shared of the country.

The couple's first stop: Broadlands, Hampshire

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's first stop on their honeymoon was Broadlands, an English country house in Romsey, Hampshire. The Broadlands Estate dates back to the 1700s, but the area's history goes back to the 11th century. The original manor and area known as Broadlands belonged to Romsey Abbey before the Norman Conquest. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it was sold to Sir Francis Fleming.

Broadlands was not only the honeymoon destination of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the chosen hideaway for the then Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, who spent the first three days of their honeymoon there in 1981. The country home is still owned by Philip's family, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spent their first night as a married couple at the Broadlands Estate in November 1947. At the time, the newlyweds were Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The couple revisited Broadlands for their 60th anniversary, and again in 2007 for their diamond wedding anniversary, indicating their fond memories of the estate.

They then went to Birkhall on the Balmoral estate

After their wedding in 1947, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, near Southampton. They then went to Birkhall, a 6,000-acre estate with an 18th-century house, located on the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The estate was purchased in 1849 by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, as a separate but nearby Scottish home for their son, the future Edward VII. However, he did not seem to care for it, so Queen Victoria bought it back in 1884 or 1885 to provide accommodation for her staff and extended family.

In the 1930s, King George V lent Birkhall to the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), who redecorated the house and replanted the gardens. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret spent many happy holidays there until their parents took up residence at Balmoral upon the Duke's accession as king in 1936. From then on, Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their children stayed at Birkhall during the late summer months.

The garden at Birkhall is designed to be at its peak during the late summer when the Prince of Wales likes to visit most. The gardeners, Ann Bain and Suzie Graham, maintain the gardens with guidance from the Prince's Head Gardener at Highgrove. The terrace at the top of the garden features a thyme-studded path and flower-filled borders. The sloping lawn is fronted by borders of red roses, and a bridge made from a dead elm tree from Balmoral leads to an island in the River Muick.

The Queen's corgi, Susan, travelled with them

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon in 1947 at Broadlands, near Southampton, in the United Kingdom. The newlyweds then travelled to Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.

Susan was the first of a long line of corgis and dorgis (dachshund/corgi crosses) owned by the Queen. She was given to Princess Elizabeth on her eighteenth birthday in 1944 by her father, King George VI. Susan was the matriarch of 14 generations of royal corgis, and the Queen owned more than thirty of her descendants during her lifetime.

Susan was a sweet and affectionate companion who played a significant role in the Queen's life. She was by the Queen's side during World War II and her coronation in 1953, which took place a year after the death of the Queen's father. Susan also accompanied the couple on their honeymoon travels, including on a tour of Earl Mountbatten's Broadlands estate in a Jeep driven by Prince Philip.

Susan died in 1959 and was buried in the pet cemetery that Queen Victoria had founded on the Windsor estate of Sandringham. The Queen personally designed a headstone for her grave, which read: "For almost 15 years, the faithful companion of the Queen."

They revisited Broadlands for their 60th anniversary

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's honeymoon in 1947 was spent at Broadlands House in Hampshire, owned by Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. They then travelled to Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral estate in Scotland. To commemorate their 60th anniversary, the couple recreated their honeymoon photo at Broadlands, with the Queen hooking her right hand through Prince Philip's arm. The Queen wore the same sapphire chrysanthemum brooch that she had worn for a photocall on her honeymoon in 1947 and again for their 60th anniversary in 2007. The couple posed for photos on the grounds, looking very much in love.

Broadlands House held a special significance for the couple, as it was where they spent the early days of their married life together. The house was also closely connected to the Mountbatten family, with Prince Philip's uncle being Lord Mountbatten. The name "Mountbatten" itself had been adopted by Prince Philip as an Anglicized version of his original name when he became a naturalised British subject before his wedding to Queen Elizabeth.

The decision to return to Broadlands for their 60th anniversary highlights the couple's desire to reconnect with the place that held such happy memories for them. It also demonstrates the enduring nature of their relationship and their commitment to honouring their shared history. By recreating their honeymoon photo, they not only revisited a cherished moment in time but also created a new memory to add to their collection of special moments at Broadlands.

The choice to wear the same brooch added a further layer of symbolism to the occasion. The sapphire chrysanthemum brooch, made of sapphires and diamonds set in platinum, became a timeless piece of jewellery that linked their past and present. It served as a reminder of their honeymoon and the early days of their marriage, symbolising the longevity of their union and the enduring nature of their love.

Overall, the decision to revisit Broadlands for their 60th anniversary was a meaningful and sentimental gesture that celebrated the enduring nature of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's relationship and honoured the special place that Broadlands held in their hearts.

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