I have been reflecting on the Queen this weekend – quite an extraordinary leader and one of the first female role models in modern times. Over the weekend we have learnt more about her sense of humour and her ability to relate to all people whom she came in touch with, and goodness knows how many hundreds of thousands of hands she would have shaken.

I don’t know if you caught some of the vision on TV. It is a sad time, however inevitable, but it does remind me how well Britain does pomp and ceremony. Listening to the trumpet fanfare I couldn’t help but marvel at the complexity of the costumes and the sense of respect, history and protocols.

Surely the Queen was one of the most travelled people the world has seen, particularly in her younger days when her entourage managed to visit every country in the Commonwealth. I remember living in London and a client wanting to visit her son in Kiribati – for all my research I was unable to find a way to reach this tiny island nation. I then remembered the Queen had visited, so I called The Palace to ask how they had arranged it.

Of course: the Royal Yacht Britannia! So that wasn’t much help for my client, who eventually caught a cargo ship carrying bananas from Fiji!

The shots of the British countryside have been wonderful. I always say there is nowhere more beautiful in the world than Britain on a glorious sunny day – the problem is there just aren’t so many of them. The area around Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands is beautiful, with heather on the moors, and the open countryside of the Cairngorms. Further north, lochs are connected by canals built at the beginning of the industrial revolution, you can sail across the country from Inverness to Fort William and onto to Oban.

The Palaces and Castles of the royals are throughout the country and often you can be driving along and catch a glimpse down a tree-lined road of an amazing manor.

If you visit in the summer, visit Australia House (or New Zealand or Canada etc) where you can register to attend various events. I was lucky to be able to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace and also to attend Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. Other opportunities are to secure a seat at the Trooping of the Colour. Head out to Windsor with a picnic and watch the polo. Open to all, these events are fun and encourage us all to appreciate Britain.

Apart from the aristocratic side, there are the everyday delights. Britain has so much to offer the visitor. London has the most amazing galleries and museums, extraordinary theatres and wonderful concerts as well as events like Wimbledon. Do head out into the countryside. Walk along laneways between villages, stop on the green to watch county cricket or enjoy a pint or a Pimms at the local pub. The hardest thing is to allow yourselves enough time to explore this wonderful country.

Contact Travelling Places
P: 075545 1600 
E: travel@travellingplaces.com.au