Photos: Getty
Zambia 1961
Her Majesty has a serious case of wanderlust, having been to a grand total of 128 countries (out of 196) in her long reign, from the tiny South Pacific island of Tuvalu to Toronto, and staying in anything from fancy five stars, like Raffles Singapore (2006), to a B&B in Bristol when stranded in a blizzard in 1981.
You may be envious at such an impressive roster of globetrotting, but when you're Head of State, it's not all beaches and bungee-jumping. There must have been zillions of times when HRH just wanted to flop onto a poolside sunlounger with a margarita in hand, or head down to the local rum shack, incognito, for a bit of fancy footwork with the (very handsome) Prince Philip - but instead had to brace herself for endless displays of everything from archery to art work.
Your majesty, for sheer stamina, we salute you.
Great Wall of China, 1986
Royal globetrotting in numbers:
During her six-month Commonwealth tour (November 1953 to May 1954). in her first year on the throne, she travelled more than 40,000 miles in 12 countries,
And from parachuting ( we know that was really her ) into the Olympic stadium, to riding an elephant in India - she has notched up some impressive dare-devilry.
Years on the throne: 63
Countries seen: 128 countries in 270 official visits
Canada 1976
Miles sailed on the Royal Yacht Britannia: 1 million
Most visited country: Canada, coming in at an impressive 25 trips
Slovakia
Number of visits to Greece, Prince Philips’ homeland – a surprising zero
Number of other royal family members allowed to travel without a passport – zero. As passports are issued in her name, she is the only person who doesn't need one
Tuvalu
Total number of hours racked up waving at cheering crowds - 3053 (ELLE guestimate)
Number of very un-PC gaffes by Prince Philip (remember slitty -eyed comment in China in 1986?) Perhaps best forgotten
New Zealand 1976
Number of times she nearly dozed off in a national display of traditonal something-or-other : we're far too polite to say
Number of bouquets accepted from cute children: 1739
China
Number of weird presents from heads of state (wine cooler shaped like a giant grasshopper, anyone?): Countless
Cape Coast, Ghana
As she once remarked during a discussion about her schedule: ‘I think I’ve done my bit, don’t you?’