Royal Honeymoon: Queen Elizabeth's Post-Wedding Vacation

where did queen elizabeth go for her honeymoon

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, spent the first part of their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten. They then travelled to Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland for the second part of their honeymoon. The couple were accompanied by their dog, Susan the Corgi, and had to interrupt their honeymoon to give a statement to the public before leaving for Scotland.

Characteristics Values
Honeymoon destination Broadlands, Hampshire
Birkhall Lodge, Balmoral Estate, Scotland
Year of honeymoon 1947
Honeymoon duration 5 weeks

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Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip's honeymoon began in Broadlands, Hampshire

The couple had married at Westminster Abbey in 1947, with the ceremony officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, and the Dean of Westminster, Alan Campbell Don. The Archbishop of York, Cyril Garbett, delivered the sermon. The ceremony was recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio to 200 million people around the world.

Princess Elizabeth wore a "duchess satin bridal gown with motifs of star lilies and orange blossoms", designed by Norman Hartnell. She did her own makeup for the wedding and wore a pair of pearl necklaces that had belonged to Queen Anne and Queen Caroline, given to her as a wedding gift by her father. Her wedding shoes were made of satin and trimmed with silver and seed pearl. Her wedding bouquet consisted of "white orchids with a sprig of myrtle", the latter taken from the Osborne Myrtle Bush, which had been planted at Osborne House by Queen Victoria in 1846.

The couple spent their wedding night at Broadlands, before travelling to Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, where they spent the remainder of their honeymoon.

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The couple then travelled to Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland

Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband, Prince Philip, spent the second part of their honeymoon at Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. The lodge was also where their son, Prince Charles, spent his wedding night when he married Princess Diana. After a cruise in the Mediterranean, they too wrapped up their honeymoon at Balmoral. Charles also honeymooned at the Scotland estate with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

The royal couple spent the first part of their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten. They then travelled to Scotland, interrupting their honeymoon to give a statement to their adoring public. The joint statement read:

> "Before we leave for Scotland tonight, we want to say that the reception given to us on our wedding day and the loving interest shown by our fellow countrymen and well-wishers in all parts of the world have left an impression which will never grow faint."

Birkhall Lodge was also the honeymoon destination for Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, Prince Edward, and his new bride.

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The newlyweds were accompanied by their dog, Susan the Corgi

Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband, Prince Philip, embarked on their honeymoon in 1947. The newlyweds were accompanied by their dog, Susan the Corgi. They departed from Waterloo Station in London and travelled to Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Prince Philip's uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The couple spent their wedding night at the manor house, which was also visited by Princess Elizabeth's son, Prince Edward, and his bride years later.

After their stay in Hampshire, the couple travelled to Scotland for the second part of their honeymoon. They stayed at Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate, also known as the Birkhall on the royal family's Balmoral Estate. The lodge was a popular choice for royal honeymoons, with Queen Elizabeth's son, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, also choosing it as their honeymoon destination in 2005. Birkhall Lodge was beloved by the Queen Mother, who left it to the Prince in her will.

The newlyweds' trip to Scotland included fly-fishing and sketching before they embarked on a tour of the Greek islands on a yacht. They also took time to interrupt their honeymoon and give a statement to their adoring public before leaving for Scotland, expressing their gratitude for the reception and love shown by their fellow countrymen and well-wishers worldwide.

The Queen and Prince Philip's honeymoon was a low-key affair, and they valued the privacy and quiet time together as newlyweds. Their journey to Scotland by train and their activities there, including walks and sailing, reflected a simple and relaxed approach to their honeymoon.

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They released a joint statement to the public before leaving for Scotland

On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II, married Philip Mountbatten, who was created the Duke of Edinburgh before their wedding. The couple spent the first part of their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten. They then travelled to Scotland, where they stayed at Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate.

Before leaving for Scotland, the newlyweds released a joint statement to the public, expressing their gratitude for the warm reception on their wedding day and the love shown by their fellow countrymen and people around the world. The statement read:

> "Before we leave for Scotland tonight, we want to say that the reception given to us on our wedding day and the loving interest shown by our fellow countrymen and well-wishers in all parts of the world have left an impression that will never grow faint."

The couple's decision to include well-wishers from around the world in their statement reflects the global reach of their wedding celebrations, as the ceremony was broadcast by BBC Radio to 200 million people across the British Empire and beyond.

The choice to spend their honeymoon at Birkhall Lodge, a relatively low-key destination compared to other royal honeymoon locations, may have been influenced by the post-World War II context of their wedding. The simplicity of their honeymoon could have been a thoughtful gesture to connect with the public, who were still navigating the challenges and austerity of the post-war era.

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The couple's son, Prince Charles, also honeymooned at the Scotland estate

Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Philip, spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire, which is the home of Philip’s uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. From there, they travelled to Birkhall on the royal family’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Years later, their son, Prince Charles, also honeymooned at the Scotland estate. After marrying Princess Diana, the couple spent their wedding night at Broadlands before going on a cruise in the Mediterranean. They concluded their honeymoon at Balmoral, the same place where Charles's parents had honeymooned decades earlier.

Charles also spent his honeymoon at the Scotland estate with his second wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The couple celebrated their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, which has played host to several significant events in the history of King Charles and the wider royal family.

Charles has strong ties to Scotland, having attended Gordonstoun School, near Elgin in Moray, and been shaped by the values instilled in him there. He is also a member of the Church of Scotland and attends services at Crathie Kirk when staying at Balmoral. In addition, the Castle of Mey in Caithness holds significance for Charles, as he visited the estate annually with the Queen Mother, who restored it after purchasing it in 1952.

Frequently asked questions

Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, spent her honeymoon with her husband, Prince Philip, at Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Philip's uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. They then travelled to Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Yes, the couple went on a cruise in the Mediterranean and also spent time in Greece.

Yes, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their wedding night at Broadlands and also ended their honeymoon at Balmoral. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also honeymooned at Birkhall Lodge.

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