Deborah Chan
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, spent their honeymoon in 1947 at Broadlands in Hampshire, which is the home of Philip’s uncle, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma. They then travelled to Birkhall on the royal family’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland. The couple's son, Prince Charles, also spent his wedding night at Broadlands when he married Princess Diana, and the pair later travelled to Balmoral and on a cruise in the Mediterranean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1947 |
| Queen's Title at the Time | Princess Elizabeth |
| Husband's Title at the Time | Prince Philip |
| Locations | Broadlands, Hampshire; Birkhall Lodge, Balmoral Estate, Scotland |
| Duration | 3 weeks |
| Dog | Susan the Corgi |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's honeymoon in 1947
In 1947, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon at Broadlands House in Hampshire, owned by Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten. The newlyweds were photographed enjoying a stroll through the rural woodland area, with the Queen dressed in a pleated skirt, a cinched jacket, and lace-up shoes, and her husband in a tweed suit.
The couple brought their dog, Susan the Corgi, with them on their honeymoon, smuggling her under the blankets in their carriage to the station. They spent their wedding night at Broadlands before travelling to Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, where they spent the remainder of their honeymoon.
The Royal Collection Trust's official Instagram account shared a rare photo of the newlyweds on their honeymoon at Broadlands, near Southampton, to commemorate what would have been the Queen's 77th wedding anniversary in 2024. The photo showed the couple smiling as they walked through the countryside.
On their 60th anniversary, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip recreated a photo from their honeymoon, posing under a large tree within the grounds of Broadlands in Hampshire. The couple had also interrupted their honeymoon to reshoot their wedding photos after Elizabeth misplaced her flowers.
Honeymoon Holidays: How Many Days Are Enough?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Prince & Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71jIkhumv-L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Broadlands, Hampshire
The estate dates back to before the Norman Conquest, when it was owned by Romsey Abbey, founded by Edward the Elder for his daughter Elflaeda as a Benedictine nunnery in 907. In 1547, after the dissolution of the monasteries, Broadlands was sold to Sir Francis Fleming, and it has been privately owned ever since. Broadlands passed through several prominent families over the centuries, including the Flemings, the St Barbe family, and the Temples, who made significant improvements to the property. In the 19th century, it was the country estate of British Prime Minister Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.
Broadlands is perhaps best known as the locale for the honeymoons of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. At the time of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's honeymoon, Broadlands was the home of Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten. The newlyweds were photographed enjoying a stroll through the rural woodland area, with the Queen dressed in a pleated skirt and cinched jacket, and Prince Philip in a tweed suit.
Today, Broadlands continues to be privately owned by the Mountbatten family and is occasionally opened to the public for guided tours during select dates in the summer.
Romantic September Honeymoon Destinations for Newlyweds
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Prince & Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518lz6txXdL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![The Prince And Me 3 - A Royal Honeymoon [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91vvvCVYkaL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Dark Honeymoon [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LmGnRyoNL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Birkhall Lodge, Balmoral Estate, Scotland
Birkhall Lodge is a 6,000-acre estate located on the Balmoral estate in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name Birkhall comes from the Scots "Birk Hauch", meaning "Birch River-meadow". The estate is situated alongside the River Muick, to the southwest of Ballater. The property was constructed in 1715 and was initially owned by the Farquharsone family before being acquired by the Gordon family, who owned the Abergeldie Estate.
In 1849, Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, purchased Birkhall as part of the Balmoral Castle estate. The following year, in 1850, the smaller residence of Birkhall was gifted to his eldest son, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. However, the prince only visited Birkhall once, preferring the larger and more spacious Abergeldie Castle. Consequently, in 1884, Queen Victoria repurchased Birkhall to provide accommodation for her staff and extended family.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Birkhall was occupied by General Sir Dighton Probyn, Keeper of the Privy Purse to King Edward VII and Comptroller to Queen Alexandra. Subsequently, in the 1930s, King George V lent the lodge to the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). They redecorated the house, retaining much of the old furniture and pictures, and replanted the gardens. The Duke and Duchess of York spent many happy holidays at Birkhall with their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. After the Duke of York ascended the throne in 1936, the new king and queen took up residence at Balmoral during the summer, while Princess Elizabeth, her husband, Prince Philip, and their children occupied Birkhall during the late summer months.
Notably, Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen) and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon at Birkhall Lodge in 1947. They enjoyed stalking in the snow and took advantage of the spectacular weather by extending their stay. The Queen Mother also had a strong affinity for Birkhall, using it as a summer residence until her death in 2002, when it was inherited by her grandson, Charles, the current King.
Plan a Romantic Phuket and Krabi Honeymoon
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Royal Yacht Britannia
The Royal Yacht Britannia was the British royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997. In her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than one million nautical miles around the world to over 600 ports in 135 countries. The ship hosted four royal honeymoons in its 44 years of service.
Princess Margaret was the first to make use of the so-called "honeymoon suite" when she and the Earl of Snowdon enjoyed a Caribbean cruise in 1960. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, who took a honeymoon cruise aboard the ship in 1973—storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. In 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana sailed on the ship for their honeymoon, touring the Mediterranean. Charles brought a double bed onto the yacht during their trip, as all of the bedrooms had single beds. The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, in 1986, when the couple travelled around the Azores.
The ship was decommissioned in 1997 due to its high operating cost of £11 million each year. The yacht is now a museum open to the public in Edinburgh, Scotland. The tour shows Queen Elizabeth's bedroom, state rooms used for entertaining, and crew bunks. Over 300,000 people visit the Royal Yacht Britannia every year.
Honeymoon in Italy: A Romantic Escape?
You may want to see also
Caribbean, Mediterranean and Greek Islands
Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband, Prince Philip, spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten's country retreat in Hampshire. They then travelled to Birkhall on the royal family's Balmoral Estate in Scotland.
The Queen's son, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, followed in their footsteps with a honeymoon at Birkhall Lodge on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland after tying the knot in 2005. They also went on a Greek island-hopping cruise.
Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon opted for a luxury trip around the Caribbean on the Royal Yacht Britannia, where they visited Mustique, Trinidad, and Antigua. They also hosted formal dinners in full evening dress in the royal apartments and sunbathed.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, followed by a cruise in the Mediterranean, and then Balmoral.
Honeymoon Diabetes: Insulin and You
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip honeymooned at Broadlands, the home of Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten, in Hampshire. They then travelled to Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.
The couple brought their dog, Susan the Corgi, with them.
Yes, the couple had to interrupt their honeymoon twice. Firstly, to reshoot their wedding photos, as the first set was ruined when Elizabeth misplaced her flowers. Secondly, to give a joint statement to their adoring public before leaving for Scotland.
