Kiwi Curated
Hotels Fit For A Queen
by Eva ZhuFor the last 70 years, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been the head of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realm, leading with her steadfast commitment to country and kin (and a rumored wicked sense of humor). As a princess and during her reign, she journeyed to numerous nations, visiting iconic hotels. In honor of Her Majesty’s 96th birthday and upcoming Platinum Jubilee, we trace her historic travels across the globe, and the exceptional hotels that have welcomed her.
Hotels Fit For A Queen
Built atop Central Station in downtown Montreal by the Canadian Railroad Company, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth has been a distinguished landmark since 1958. Queen Elizabeth II has visited her namesake hotel on three separate occasions, including in 1959 when she stopped by before joining President Eisenhower for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Recently completing a $140 million renovation, it is no longer the same hotel as when Her Majesty first stepped foot inside, but it is nevertheless fit to welcome a queen.
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Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is often called a castle and we can see why; not only does it resemble the palaces of France’s Loire Valley but it has also hosted its fair share of visiting royals. Princess Elizabeth first visited in 1951, then returned on her 1959 tour, where she inaugurated the St. Lawrence Seaway and attended a Royal Banquet at the chateau. To commemorate the occasion, the hotel named a suite after her; the Elizabeth II Suite overlooks the St. Lawrence River and features British accents and photographs of the queen during different times of her life.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Once the largest and finest hotel in the British Empire, Fairmont Royal York is the hotel of choice for the British Royal Family, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, matching portraits of the queen and Prince Philip hang in the lobby. She stays in the 16th-floor Royal Suite, which has two bedrooms, three bathrooms and a 12-seat formal dining room. Non-royal guests however will never share the same mattress as the queen; special royal furnishings are kept in storage until she visits.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip enjoyed their stay at the Fairmont Palliser so much during their 1990 tour that in 1993 the crown bestowed the hotel with a Heraldic Badge. For a glimpse into royal life, guests today can book The Royal Suite which will grant you all Fairmont Gold privileges, such as a private check-in on the Penthouse Floor, access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge and complimentary breakfast and canapes.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Following in the footsteps of her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made a trip to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on their 2005 visit to Canada. They stayed in the Outlook Cabin, now known as “The Royal Retreat.” This whopping 6,000-square-foot residence features six bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a full kitchen and separate dining room, plus the niceties of enclosed verandas and wood-burning stone fireplaces.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Named after her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, the Fairmont Empress is a longstanding favored hotel of the reigning monarch. Princess Elizabeth first visited in 1951 with then Prince Philip of Greece, one year before becoming Queen, and has since returned numerous times. Visitors today dine like royals at the hotel’s famous afternoon tea, on replicas of the tea set gifted to the hotel by King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth, and can stay in the Royal Suite, which overlooks the Parliament Buildings and Inner Harbour and includes all Fairmont Gold amenities.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
A destination for the rich and famous, Hotel Principe di Savoia Milano has been graced by celebrities and heads of state alike, including Queen Elizabeth II herself who stayed in the Presidential Suite. The location of many Hollywood films, this top-floor suite spanning 5,400 square feet features three bedrooms of French and Italian style, a separate 12-person dining room, a wraparound balcony and most impressive of all, a Pompei-style spa with a large private swimming pool, sauna and Turkish bath.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Completed in 1863 for Prince Philip of Wuerttemberg, Hotel Imperial is a princely palace in the heart of Vienna’s Ringgstrasse. It was later transformed into a hotel for the 1873 Vienna’s World Fair but retains its aristocratic grandeur—stucco ceilings, marble columns and magnificent chandeliers. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne were received here on their 1969 visit. Guests wanting to pretend to be a prince or princess can book The Royal Suites, which were once the private apartments of the Prince of Wuerttenberg.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
The official guesthouse of the Swiss government, Bellevue Palace has welcomed many important names in its history, from Nelson Mandela to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This palatial hotel sits next to the Federal Parliament in the Old Town and enjoys fine views of the Bernese Alps and Aare River. Visitors today will find it continues to be a popular meeting place for politicians and diplomats, particularly at the Bellevue Bar—the oldest American bar in Switzerland and a legendary institute in its own right.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
One of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Switzerland, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois has been welcoming illustrious guests for some three centuries and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is no exception. Although the hotel received a facelift in 2006, this Grande Dame on the River Rhine did not let go of its period charms, and those wanting to experience Old European luxury like a queen will still find opulent details such as intricate wrought iron, glowing chandeliers, rich textiles and gilded edges.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
First opened in 1887, Raffles Hotel Singapore is a National Monument that harkens back to the golden age of elegance. Its storied guest list includes the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Elizabeth Taylor and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who last visited the former British colony in 2006. The queen and Prince Philip stayed in The Sir Stamford Raffles Suite, one of two Presidential Suites at the hotel featuring curated antiques and artworks, a balcony overlooking the Palm Court and discreet Raffles butler service.
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Hotels Fit For A Queen
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II liked Huka Lodge so much that she has stayed here several times, and it’s no wonder—the natural beauty of New Zealand’s North Island can be matched with that of her beloved Scottish countryside. This getaway of suites and cottages set along the Waikato River is one of the oldest and most revered luxury lodges in the country. Styled in the manner of a grand estate, it’s modern but decidedly regal. Here, fine dining, fine wines and outdoor leisure are enjoyed alongside antique furniture pieces, monogrammed linens and wood-burning fireplaces.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Set along a crescent-shaped beach on Jamaica’s idyllic North Shore, Half Moon is a favorite hideaway of the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip last escaped here in 2002, when they made Montego Bay the first stop on their tour of Jamaica. All suites on all three properties will have you living like royalty but the six-bedroom Ocean Villa is particularly standout. Besides being large, it affords a direct view of the Caribbean Sea and comes staffed with a cook, butler and housekeeper so you’ll never have to lift a finger.
VIEW HOTELHotels Fit For A Queen
Located in an exclusive area of Kahala and renowned for privacy, The Kahala Hotel & Resort’s star-studded guest list ranges from Hollywood icons to every single U.S. president and royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. For your own taste of the glamorous life, the most luxurious rooms here are the Signature Suites, each unique and all commanding views of the ocean. With exclusive amenities such as airport transfers, cocktail service and massages for two, the hardest choice you’ll have to make is choosing between the four suites.
VIEW HOTELBuilt atop Central Station in downtown Montreal by the Canadian Railroad Company, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth has been a distinguished landmark since 1958. Queen Elizabeth II has visited her namesake hotel on three separate occasions, including in 1959 when she stopped by before joining President Eisenhower for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Recently completing a $140 million renovation, it is no longer the same hotel as when Her Majesty first stepped foot inside, but it is nevertheless fit to welcome a queen.
VIEW HOTELFairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is often called a castle and we can see why; not only does it resemble the palaces of France’s Loire Valley but it has also hosted its fair share of visiting royals. Princess Elizabeth first visited in 1951, then returned on her 1959 tour, where she inaugurated the St. Lawrence Seaway and attended a Royal Banquet at the chateau. To commemorate the occasion, the hotel named a suite after her; the Elizabeth II Suite overlooks the St. Lawrence River and features British accents and photographs of the queen during different times of her life.
VIEW HOTELOnce the largest and finest hotel in the British Empire, Fairmont Royal York is the hotel of choice for the British Royal Family, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, matching portraits of the queen and Prince Philip hang in the lobby. She stays in the 16th-floor Royal Suite, which has two bedrooms, three bathrooms and a 12-seat formal dining room. Non-royal guests however will never share the same mattress as the queen; special royal furnishings are kept in storage until she visits.
VIEW HOTELQueen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip enjoyed their stay at the Fairmont Palliser so much during their 1990 tour that in 1993 the crown bestowed the hotel with a Heraldic Badge. For a glimpse into royal life, guests today can book The Royal Suite which will grant you all Fairmont Gold privileges, such as a private check-in on the Penthouse Floor, access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge and complimentary breakfast and canapes.
VIEW HOTELFollowing in the footsteps of her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made a trip to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on their 2005 visit to Canada. They stayed in the Outlook Cabin, now known as “The Royal Retreat.” This whopping 6,000-square-foot residence features six bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a full kitchen and separate dining room, plus the niceties of enclosed verandas and wood-burning stone fireplaces.
VIEW HOTELNamed after her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, the Fairmont Empress is a longstanding favored hotel of the reigning monarch. Princess Elizabeth first visited in 1951 with then Prince Philip of Greece, one year before becoming Queen, and has since returned numerous times. Visitors today dine like royals at the hotel’s famous afternoon tea, on replicas of the tea set gifted to the hotel by King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth, and can stay in the Royal Suite, which overlooks the Parliament Buildings and Inner Harbour and includes all Fairmont Gold amenities.
VIEW HOTELA destination for the rich and famous, Hotel Principe di Savoia Milano has been graced by celebrities and heads of state alike, including Queen Elizabeth II herself who stayed in the Presidential Suite. The location of many Hollywood films, this top-floor suite spanning 5,400 square feet features three bedrooms of French and Italian style, a separate 12-person dining room, a wraparound balcony and most impressive of all, a Pompei-style spa with a large private swimming pool, sauna and Turkish bath.
VIEW HOTELCompleted in 1863 for Prince Philip of Wuerttemberg, Hotel Imperial is a princely palace in the heart of Vienna’s Ringgstrasse. It was later transformed into a hotel for the 1873 Vienna’s World Fair but retains its aristocratic grandeur—stucco ceilings, marble columns and magnificent chandeliers. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne were received here on their 1969 visit. Guests wanting to pretend to be a prince or princess can book The Royal Suites, which were once the private apartments of the Prince of Wuerttenberg.
VIEW HOTELThe official guesthouse of the Swiss government, Bellevue Palace has welcomed many important names in its history, from Nelson Mandela to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This palatial hotel sits next to the Federal Parliament in the Old Town and enjoys fine views of the Bernese Alps and Aare River. Visitors today will find it continues to be a popular meeting place for politicians and diplomats, particularly at the Bellevue Bar—the oldest American bar in Switzerland and a legendary institute in its own right.
VIEW HOTELOne of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Switzerland, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois has been welcoming illustrious guests for some three centuries and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is no exception. Although the hotel received a facelift in 2006, this Grande Dame on the River Rhine did not let go of its period charms, and those wanting to experience Old European luxury like a queen will still find opulent details such as intricate wrought iron, glowing chandeliers, rich textiles and gilded edges.
VIEW HOTELFirst opened in 1887, Raffles Hotel Singapore is a National Monument that harkens back to the golden age of elegance. Its storied guest list includes the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Elizabeth Taylor and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who last visited the former British colony in 2006. The queen and Prince Philip stayed in The Sir Stamford Raffles Suite, one of two Presidential Suites at the hotel featuring curated antiques and artworks, a balcony overlooking the Palm Court and discreet Raffles butler service.
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II liked Huka Lodge so much that she has stayed here several times, and it’s no wonder—the natural beauty of New Zealand’s North Island can be matched with that of her beloved Scottish countryside. This getaway of suites and cottages set along the Waikato River is one of the oldest and most revered luxury lodges in the country. Styled in the manner of a grand estate, it’s modern but decidedly regal. Here, fine dining, fine wines and outdoor leisure are enjoyed alongside antique furniture pieces, monogrammed linens and wood-burning fireplaces.
VIEW HOTELSet along a crescent-shaped beach on Jamaica’s idyllic North Shore, Half Moon is a favorite hideaway of the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip last escaped here in 2002, when they made Montego Bay the first stop on their tour of Jamaica. All suites on all three properties will have you living like royalty but the six-bedroom Ocean Villa is particularly standout. Besides being large, it affords a direct view of the Caribbean Sea and comes staffed with a cook, butler and housekeeper so you’ll never have to lift a finger.
VIEW HOTELLocated in an exclusive area of Kahala and renowned for privacy, The Kahala Hotel & Resort’s star-studded guest list ranges from Hollywood icons to every single U.S. president and royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. For your own taste of the glamorous life, the most luxurious rooms here are the Signature Suites, each unique and all commanding views of the ocean. With exclusive amenities such as airport transfers, cocktail service and massages for two, the hardest choice you’ll have to make is choosing between the four suites.
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