Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations. She was crowned in 1953, so she has been on the throne for 69 years, which makes her the longest reign British monarch, surpassing even Queen Victoria.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is her real name, and she was born in Mayfair, London, on a day like today, April 21, 1926, so she turns 96 this Thursday.
She was married for more than 70 years to Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, at the age of 99.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth has visited several countries, and Mexico has been no exception. The queen was in the Aztec country on two occasions: 1975 and 1983, where she visited different states and cities.
When she first visited Mexico in 1975, the country was ruled by PRI Luis Echeverria Álvarez, and she was accompanied by her husband. Although relations between Mexico and the United Kingdom date back to the early 19th century, this was the first official visit that a monarch made to Mexican lands.
On this first trip, Queen Isabel and her husband stayed in Mexican territory for a few days, from February 24 to March 1, and on that occasion she toured several states, such as Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Guanajuato, Mexico City and Veracruz.
Beginning their visit to the country, Queen Elizabeth and her husband arrived on a yacht called Britannia to the island of Cozumel, off Playa del Carmen, in Quintana Roo, where they stayed for a very short time, because immediately after leaving the yacht, they boarded a plane that took them to Mexico City.
Already in the capital of the country, the royal couple were received by President Luis Echeverria and his wife, First Lady Maria Zuna. The meeting coincided with Flag Day, so children filled the capital's Zócalo with rhythmic boards, gymnastics demonstrations, choirs and colorful pompons, as a sign of celebration to welcome the monarch.
The celebration ended with the president and his wife accompanying the monarchs on their tour of the city aboard an open car and the streets full of people who wanted to see the Queen and her husband pass by.
The royal couple settled in the capital for a couple of days and stayed at the Camino Real hotel.
After their visit to the capital, they traveled to Guanajuato on board a train and there they toured its most emblematic places, such as the monument to the Pipila, the Juárez Theater, the University of Guanajuato, the Alhondiga de Granaditas and the local market, where they ate tlacoyos.
After their visit to Guanajuato, they went to Oaxaca, where the monarchs visited the loom halls and the handicraft palace, where they counted, bought various handicrafts, paying with pounds sterling.
They also participated in the night celebration of La Guelaguetza, and visited the archaeological site of Monte Albán.
Finally, they visited the state of Yucatan, where they stayed for a couple of days, to end their visit to Mexico on March 1, 1975.
Eight years after their first visit, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip returned to Mexico in 1983. At this time, Miguel de la Madrid was already in the presidency, and it was the last time that the monarch stepped on Mexican territory.
On this second visit, the royal couple did not attend any of the cities they visited on their first trip, and preferred to visit new places. The visit took place from 17 to 25 February 1983.
The couple arrived via the Royal Force of England plane to Acapulco, where they were met by the first Mexican president. A welcoming ceremony was held there again. After this, it is said that the royal couple made a tour on the coast Miguel Alemán Valdés.
Later, they visited the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas, in Michoacán, where they met with the then governor of the state Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Bernardo Sepulveda.
The next destination was the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco, considered one of the most beautiful and important tourist spots in the country. There was also a ceremony where the keys of the city were handed over to the Queen.
Later, the couple arrived in the city of La Paz, in Baja California Sur, on board the royal yacht Britannia. There they visited the Hare Eye Lagoon, the Cathedral of Our Lady of La Paz Airapi, and the islands Jacques Cousteau and Espírito Santo.
Finally, the visit ended on 25 February of that year.
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