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There's A Surprising European Country That The Queen Has Never Visited

There's A Surprising European Country That The Queen Has Never Visited

With good reason.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

Sixty-five years on the throne, 116 countries travelled, yet there still remains quite a large European country that the Queen has never visited.

Her Majesty may have spent her reign being the figurehead of Britain, representing the country as head of state in an aim to boosting the island's reputation - yet one country hasn't been ticked off the list.

Queen Liz has never visited Greece, despite it being a popular country for her peasant subjects to travel too.

Credit: PA

The reason behind it is due to her husband, Prince Philip, being a member of the Greek royal family, and it's these awkward links that make it difficult to return.

She went as a young woman, before marrying Prince Philip in 1950, with Philip returning once Elizabeth II had taken to the throne, but has never taken out an official duty there.

Philip's mum moved to the UK in 1960, and he himself was forced the flee the country - making any return a little tricky.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers told the BBC: "Prince Philip doesn't like Greece, because they put his father [Prince Andrew] on trial, and he might have been executed.

"In 1922, they all had to flee."

Credit: PA

Philip's family believed that they were in danger following World War One when his uncle, King Constantine, was forced to give up the throne.

The family were exiled in 1922, when Philip was just 18 months old, and rarely returned in any form.

Vickers added that the ties to Greece have always 'made things difficult' as far as state visits are concerned, but it may also be the simple fact that she has never been invited to visit by the Greek president.

The Queen's first state visit was made in November 1953, 18 months after she took to the throne in 1952.

Credit: PA

She visited Panama City in Panama over two days, before waiting until 1954 to visit King Idris of Libya.

Other 'strange' visits have included: Nepal, Liberia, Sudan, Qatar, Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

She failed to make a state visit in 2016, with her last being in Germany over three days in 2015.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Greece, Europe, The Queen