Elizabeth II at our palaces

On 8 February 1952, Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen at the Tower of London. During the 70 years between this moment and her death in 2022, the Queen had a deep connection to the Tower, as well as the other five palaces in our care.

As monarch, Elizabeth II owned the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House and Kew Palace 'in Right of crown'. Along with the Crown Jewels - which are kept under armed guard at the Tower - the palaces are held in trust by the reigning king or queen on behalf of the nation.

Hillsborough Castle was Elizabeth II's official residence in Northern Ireland. She visited the castle several times, including for her coronation banquet in 1953 and her meeting with Irish President Mary McAleese in 2005. The latter was the first time that the two heads of state had met on the island of Ireland.

The Queen also made her first-ever helicopter journey from Belfast Lough to Hillsborough Castle in 1977.

In 2006, the Queen celebrated her 80th birthday at Kew Palace, at a private family dinner hosted by Prince Charles (now King Charles III).

Header image: Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, during her final visit in 2016. © Historic Royal Palaces

*Image: The Proclamation of Accession of Queen Elizabeth II at the Tower of London on 8 February 1952. The Tower and moat can be seen in the background. © Historic Royal Palaces*

State dinner for Queen after arrival in Northern Ireland . The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh , standing on the steps of Government House after attending a reception there following their arrival at Hillsborough on a three-day State visit to Northern Ireland. At left are Landy Brookeborough and Lord Brookeborough , Prime Minister of Northern Ireland . Lord Wakehurst , the Governor and Lady Wakehurst are on right . 2 July 1953. — Image: Elizabeth II on the evening of her coronation banquet at Hillsborough Castle with Prince Philip. On the left is the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Sir Basil Brooke and his wife Cynthia. © Royalty / Topham Picturepoint / Press Association Images

A Coronation banquet at Hillsborough Castle

2 July 1953

After her coronation, Queen Elizabeth visited Hillsborough Castle for a grand banquet on 2 July 1953.

The Queen was already familiar with the castle, having stayed here as a young princess with her aunt, Lady Rose Bowes-Lyon. Her previous visits included her first solo trip to Northern Ireland in 1946. Hillsborough Castle provided a secure environment in which Princess Elizabeth could 'learn the ropes' of royal overseas visits with the support of her aunt and uncle.

On the evening of her coronation banquet, the Queen wore the Girls of Britain and Ireland tiara. This tiara was made for her grandmother, Queen Mary; a replica is now on display in the castle.

During the dinner in the State Dining Room, the Queen sat at the centre of the table looking out to the Granville Garden, which was created by her aunt Rose.

The next day, the Queen planted two Magnolia grandiflora trees in the castle grounds. These can still be seen today and are cared for by our team of gardeners. These fine specimens have massive white blooms that appear almost luminous in the autumn.

Queen Elizabeth II dressed in tiara and formal ballgown is presented with keys on a pillow — *Image: Queen Elizabeth II is presented with the keys of the Tower by the Constable in 1964. © Historic Royal Palaces*

An opera at the Tower of London

1964

Elizabeth II was presented with the keys of the Tower by the Constable of the Tower and Colonel Sir Thomas Butler before attending an opera in the Tower moat (Gilbert and Sullivan’s 'The Yeoman of the Guard').

Silver Jubilee visit to Northern Ireland

1977

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 with a series of jubilee tours marking her 25 years of service. The major national and international event included a UK tour that finished in Northern Ireland, where the Queen hosted a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh wave to the cheering crowds from a window in Hillsborough Castle - 14 miles from Belfast - on the first day of their two-day Silver Jubilee visit to Ulster. — Image: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh wave to the cheering crowds from a window in Hillsborough Castle on the first day of their two-day Silver Jubilee visit to Ulster. © PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

900th anniversary of the White Tower

1983

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Tower of London in 1983 for the opening of the Wall Walk. The Queen's visit marked the celebrations of the 900th anniversary of the White Tower.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (left) talks with Irish President Mary McAleese at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, Thursday December 8, 2005. It is the Queen's first visit to Northern Ireland since February 2003. — *Image: Queen Elizabeth II talks with Irish President Mary McAleese at Hillsborough Castle. © Niall Carson / PA Archive / PA Images*

An 'historic meeting' with Irish President Mary McAleese

8 December 2005

Queen Elizabeth II met Irish President Mary McAleese in the Red Room at Hillsborough Castle. This was the first time that the two heads of state had met on the island of Ireland.

Elizabeth II's 80th birthday at Kew Palace

21 April 2006

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday at Kew Palace, with a private family dinner hosted by Prince Charles (now King Charles III). According to the BBC, the Royal Family dined on smoked salmon, venison and chocolate birthday cake in the palace's intimate dining room. This family dinner was followed by a firework display over Kew Gardens.

The palace re-opened to the public the same year, following a 10-year restoration project by Historic Royal Palaces.

Elizabeth II smiles while greeting people in a stone hall — *Image: Queen Elizabeth II greets guests at the reopening of Kensington Palace in 2012. © Historic Royal Palaces*

Reopening Kensington Palace

15 March 2012

Queen Elizabeth II reopened Kensington Palace after the completion of the project 'Welcome to Kensington - a palace for everyone'. This project spanned two years (2010-12) of major refurbishments at Kensington, including new gardens and a new exhibition about her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are presented with a royal wreath by Yeoman Warder Jim Duncan at the 2014 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppy installation. — *Image: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are presented with a royal wreath by Yeoman Warder Jim Duncan at the 2014* Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppy installation. © Historic Royal Palaces

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

November 2014

The Tower of London commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of The First World War (WWI) with the art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which saw the moat filled with thousands of ceramic poppies.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh were presented with a wreath by Yeoman Warder Jim Duncan.

Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle signing visitor book. The Queen is wearing a matching pale blue hat and suit ensemble. Photo by Aaron McCracken/Harrisons. — *Image: Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle signing the visitor book. Photo by Aaron McCracken/Harrisons.*

Visit to Hillsborough Castle

2014

Queen Elizabeth visited Hillsborough Castle, meeting Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers. The same year, Historic Royal Palaces took on management responsibility of the castle. On the final day of her visit, Her Majesty signed the visitor book.

The Queen's final visit to Hillsborough

2016

Queen Elizabeth II visited Hillsborough Castle 25 times during her lifetime and planted eight trees here. Her final visit came in 2016, when she planted a Magnolia sieboldii in the castle grounds - the same species planted during her coronation tour in 1953.

Hampton Court Palace

13 June 2017

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh visited Hampton Court Palace to mark the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Companion of Honour. This royal award is granted to those who have contributed to the arts, science, medicine, or government over a long period of time.

Image shows a vast landscape of flowers in the moat for Superbloom at the Tower of London. The flowers are a variety of colours, heights and textures, with colours ranging from yellow, to orange, into pinks and purples and ending on a sea of blue and red. — *Image: Flowers fill the Tower of London for Superbloom, to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. © Historic Royal Palaces*

The Platinum Jubilee

June 2022

Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. The centrepiece of our palace celebrations was Superbloom, a new natural landscape surrounding the Tower of London.

Over 20 million flower seeds were sown in the moat in early 2022. Designed to bloom and evolve over the course of the summer in harmony with nature, Superbloom became a new haven for pollinators in London and a space to celebrate the value of nature for wellbeing.