Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was the queen consort of the United Kingdom by marriage to King George VI. As a representative of her country, she undertook 33 official overseas visits. Moreover, Elizabeth often accompanied her husband on his journeys outside of the United Kingdom. Following the death and state funeral of George VI, Elizabeth continued realising formal international visits solo on behalf of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

Throughout her international travels, Elizabeth visited 16 countries. In her public capacity, Elizabeth visited Canada ten times, the most of any overseas country. On the other hand, she visited six countries only once, including the Imperial State of Iran. Furthermore, Elizabeth visited four countries, including the United States, twice, Australia and New Zealand three times, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland four times and France five times. Across these countries throughout the decades of her trips, Elizabeth received positive receptions.

Elizabeth's visits within the United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies are excluded.

Background

The daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon spent her childhood at St Paul's Walden Bury, the country home of her parents. Educated at home, Elizabeth assisted with welfare work at Glamis Castle, the seat of the Bowes-Lyon family, during World War I. Namely, she wrote letters for recovering soldiers.

Prior to Elizabeth's marriage, she periodically travelled to Italy with her mother to visit Elizabeth's grandmother, Caroline Scott. Elizabeth and Cecilia's first documented visit to Italy occurred in 1907, and Elizabeth last visited her grandmother in 1913. Elizabeth, Cecilia, and Caroline saw each other in Caroline's villas in Bordighera, Florence and Sanremo. Moreover, Elizabeth's childhood visits to Italy instilled a sense of her appreciation for paintings and classical architecture.

In 1923, Elizabeth married Prince Albert, Duke of York (later George VI), at Westminster Abbey. She became Duchess of York. They had two children: Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret. Along with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Margaret later shared the dangers and difficulties of World War II with the rest of the United Kingdom. Namely, Queen Elizabeth's family observed wartime restrictions, including food and water rationing.

Following the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, Albert became King George VI of the United Kingdom, and Elizabeth became the United Kingdom's queen consort. Their coronation took place in 1937 at Westminster Abbey. During World War II, George and Elizabeth toured their country, visiting hospitals, factories, troops and areas damaged by The Blitz. Moreover, Elizabeth promoted recognition of women's contributions to the World War II effort.

After George VI's death in 1952, Elizabeth continued public duties both within the United Kingdom and overseas. Disliking the traditional title of Dowager Queen, she became known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Elizabeth was a patron or President of approximately 350 organisations. Moreover, during her widowhood, Elizabeth resided at Clarence House and the Castle of Mey. Furthermore, Elizabeth enjoyed travelling by helicopter during her widowhood.

Trips as Duchess of York

In addition to the subsequent visits, Elizabeth and Albert visited Norway in March 1929 for the wedding of Prince Olav of Norway (later Olav V) and Princess Märtha of Sweden.

+ Overseas visits of Elizabeth, Duchess of York # Start date End date Countries Itinerary 1 Yugoslavia Albert travelled to Belgrade to attend the baptism of Prince Peter of Yugoslavia (later Peter II) at the request of his father, George V. Moreover, Albert's presence at Peter's baptism would indicate British support for Yugoslavia. Elizabeth accompanied Albert on this visit.

In addition to Peter's baptism, Elizabeth and Albert attended the wedding of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark in Yugoslavia. Following Elizabeth and Albert's visit, photographs of their travels appeared in The Illustrated London News, illustrating the aforementioned British support for Yugoslavia. 2 British Kenya, Protectorate of Uganda and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan In July 1924, George V approved a proposal from Winston Churchill that Elizabeth and Albert travel to East Africa. On 22 December 1924, Elizabeth and Albert arrived in Mombasa, where they were welcomed by British Kenyans of various backgrounds.

Elizabeth and Albert participated in Christmas festivities in Nairobi. Subsequently, they spent three weeks at a base camp near Mount Kenya. Eventually, on 4 February 1925, Elizabeth and Albert returned to Nairobi.

On 7 February 1925, Elizabeth and Albert departed British Kenya for the Protectorate of Uganda. En route to Uganda, they stopped in Njoro, Eldoret, in British Kenya. Also, Elizabeth and Albert stopped in Jinja, Uganda, to see the source of the White Nile. Upon arriving in Entebbe on 14 February, they were greeted by a hundred canoes and the acting governor of Uganda.

After staying in Entebbe, Elizabeth and Albert were driven to Fort Portal on 18 February, where they started a safari that lasted until 5 March. Beginning in Rejaf, Elizabeth and Albert travelled through Anglo-Egyptian Sudan via a riverboat on the Nile in March 1925. During their riverboat travel, they went hunting and met the governor of Upper Nile Province on 31 March in Kodok.

On 6 April 1925, Elizabeth and Albert disembarked from their river boat in Kosti, Sudan. One day later, they arrived in Khartoum, meeting Geoffrey Archer, the Governor-General of Sudan. On 10 April, Elizabeth and Albert departed back for the United Kingdom from Port Sudan. 3 Australia and Dominion of New Zealand In July 1926, George V approved a request for Elizabeth and Albert to visit Australia and Dominion of New Zealand. Namely, Elizabeth and Albert were assigned to open the Australian Federal Parliament building in Canberra. In addition, they represented the trading interests of the British Empire on this visit.

On 22 February 1927, Elizabeth and Albert arrived in Auckland and were greeted by Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet, the governor-general of New Zealand. Elizabeth and Albert spent the next two weeks touring North Island, with Albert proceeding to tour South Island. They departed for Australia on 22 March. The New Zealand Herald noted that Elizabeth "smiled her way into the hearts of the people". Moreover, as Elizabeth and Albert were sailing for Australia, Fergusson wrote to George V, noting that "from New Zealand's point of view [Elizabeth and Albert's tour] could not possibly have given greater pleasure."

On 26 March 1927, Elizabeth and Albert arrived in Sydney, Australia, where they were welcomed by over a million people. They spent the next 47 days conducting royal engagements in Australia, including in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney itself. Namely, on 25 April, Elizabeth and Albert participated in Anzac Day celebrations in Melbourne. In addition, Elizabeth and Albert opened the Federal Parliament building on 9 May. They departed from Australia on 23 May 1927.

Following Elizabeth and Albert's royal visit to Australia, Tom Bridges, the governor of South Australia, wrote to George V that Elizabeth "has had a tremendous ovation and leaves us with the responsibility of having a continent in love with her." 4 France Elizabeth and Albert attended the annual banquet of the Caledonian Society of France, which was scheduled on Saint Andrew's Day as a tribute to the Silver Jubilee of George V. Following their visit, George Clerk, the British ambassador to France, reported to George V that Elizabeth "was of course her charming self, and won every heart."

Trips as Queen

In addition to the subsequent visits, George VI and Elizabeth, with their daughter Princess Margaret, had planned to tour Australia and New Zealand in the spring of 1949. However, due to George's declining health, this trip was cancelled.

+ Overseas visits of Elizabeth, Queen of the United Kingdom # Start date End date Countries Itinerary 5 France At the end of June 1938, Albert Lebrun, the president of France, invited George VI and Elizabeth to Paris. This state visit was intended to demonstrate the strength of the British monarchy under George and reinforce the Entente Cordiale against Nazi Germany and Italy. On 19 July 1938, George and Elizabeth departed the United Kingdom for Boulogne, France. They subsequently arrived in Paris by train, being welcomed with a 101-gun salute. During the four-day state visit, George and Elizabeth attended a state dinner at the Élysée Palace, hosted by Albert and Marguerite Lebrun. In addition, George and Elizabeth reviewed 50,000 troops at the Palace of Versailles. George and Elizabeth stayed in customised flats at the Quai d'Orsay during this trip. After George and Elizabeth's state visit, The Illustrated London News described it as "a great personal triumph" for them. Also, Neville Chamberlain praised George and remarked that Elizabeth's cheerful demeanour "as usual took every place [in France] by storm." 6 Canada and United States In November 1938, George VI announced that he and Elizabeth had accepted an invitation from Franklin D. Roosevelt, the president of the United States, for a state visit to the United States. Moreover, George and Elizabeth would visit Canada for the first time. Roosevelt hoped that this state visit would strengthen the alliance of the United States and the United Kingdom against Nazi Germany. Similarly, the British government hoped that this trip would ensure support from Canada in the event of a war with Nazi Germany.

On 17 May 1939, George and Elizabeth disembarked in Anse au Foulon in Quebec, where they were greeted by William Lyon Mackenzie King, the prime minister of Canada. King subsequently drove them to the Parliament Building of Quebec in Quebec City, where George and Elizabeth received provincial and municipal addresses.

Following their day of engagements in Quebec City, George and Elizabeth boarded a royal train to tour Canada in the following 29 days. Their stops included Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina, Toronto and Winnipeg.

Reflecting on George and Elizabeth's Canadian tour, John Buchan, the governor general of Canada, said that Elizabeth had "perfect genius for the right kind of publicity." Also, King wrote in his diary that he was impressed with the earnestness with which Elizabeth spoke.

On 7 June 1939, George and Elizabeth entered the United States in Niagara Falls, New York. The next day, they arrived in Washington, D.C. via Baltimore, where they participated in a state dinner with Roosevelt. After spending 9 June touring Washington, D.C., George and Elizabeth travelled to New York City via Sandy Hook, New Jersey. In New York City, they visited the 1939 New York World's Fair on 10 June.

After touring New York City, George and Elizabeth met with Roosevelt at Springwood in Hyde Park, New York. The conversations that George and Roosevelt had during this visit laid the foundations for the United States eventually assisting the Royal Navy during World War II via the Lend-Lease Act. Moreover, Eleanor Roosevelt later expressed that she "warmly approved" of Elizabeth's interest in social issues.