Queen Elizabeth II: Countries She Never Visited

During her seventy-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II visited numerous countries around the world, solidifying her role as a global symbol of stability and tradition. However, there are several notable nations that the late Queen did not have the opportunity to visit. These visits, or the lack thereof, were often influenced by political, social, or security reasons that prevailed during her reign.

Notable Omissions

One of the most significant countries that Queen Elizabeth II never visited was Vatican City. Although she met with the Pope on several occasions, a visit to the city-state was never realized. Another notable country was North Korea, where the political climate and diplomatic relations made a visit highly unlikely. The situation in Iran also played a role during the period following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, as political changes made a royal visit improbable.

Afghanistan and Syria were also on the list of places the Queen never visited. Ongoing conflicts and security concerns in these regions prevented a royal visit. These omissions were often due to political, social, or security reasons that were prevalent during her reign.

Other Notable Misses

Queen Elizabeth II also missed the opportunity to visit Israel. The reason for this was rooted in the Church of England's lack of recognition for the state of Israel. However, she did visit Egypt in February 1992, a visit that took place during a time when the country was still under military rule. It is also noteworthy that the Queen did not visit Greece, even though both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were members of the Greek royal family. Their family's deposed status in 1973 makes this omission understandable.

Addendum

Many other countries, such as Rwanda, Cameroon, Belarus, and Cuba, were also on the list of places the Queen did not visit. A state visit to Cuba and Argentina was not made during her lifetime, and she did not visit Rwanda. The state of affairs in these countries likely influenced these decisions.

Commonwealth Countries

While Queen Elizabeth II did make numerous visits to Commonwealth countries, she did not have the opportunity to visit the United States as she died in 2022, while Queen Elizabeth II reigned from 1952 to 2022. However, many Commonwealth countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, had the honor of hosting her during her reign.

Conclusion

Overall, Queen Elizabeth II's visits to countries were driven by a combination of political, social, and security concerns. These factors, along with her duties as Head of the Commonwealth, dictated which nations she visited and which she did not. While she managed to visit 128 out of 195 countries during her reign, several significant nations remained unvisited, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.