The Queen's visits to the to the waterways

Published: Wednesday, 01 June 2022

AS HER Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, Canal & river Trust relates her visits to the waterways over her reign:

queen KATaking in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012 and the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port in 1979.

Reopened the Kennet & Avon

She officially reopened the restored Kennet & Avon Canal in 1990, boarding the narrowboat Rose of Hungerford at the Caen Hill Flight, where a lock is named in her honour.

In Scotland in 2017, she opened the Queen Elizabeth II Canal, linking the Forth & Clyde Canal at the Kelpies with the Firth of Forth. In London, the restored Bow Back Rivers are central to the 2012 Olympic Park named in her honour.

As to the name Elizabeth, Canal & River Trust tells there are around 350 boats on its  waterways that have names related to the Queen with 66 boats named Elizabeth or have Elizabeth in their names, while a further 130 contain derivatives such as Liz or Lizzie. 

Close relationship with royalty

Richard Parry, Chief Executive at Canal & River Trust, states::

“Britain’s waterways have long had a close relationship with royalty: Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II has showed interest in the canals over the course of her reign and we are honoured to have His Royal Highness Prince Charles as our patron.

“The canals are an important part of the nation’s heritage and we are committed to protecting and preserving them for the benefit of all. Many boat owners are passionate about all aspects of boating, and perhaps the royal titles are a testament to how people see their boats! We wish her Majesty the best for her Platinum Jubilee and encourage boaters and those on the towpath to use the Jubilee celebratory weekend to experience the joys of our wonderful waterways.”