With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge currently touring Belize as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, let’s take a look at The Queen’s past visits to the country in 1985 and 1994; as well as other members of the Royal Family who have visited over the years.
1985
The Queen first visited Belize in October 1985, over 30 years after she first ascended the throne. In a speech to mark the historic moment, The Queen said: “Belize is the only one of my eighteen realms that I have not visited before and I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time.”
During her first visit to the country, The Queen visited Belize City and Dangriga; she received the key to Belize City and watched Junkanoo dancing during her stay, but her visit is perhaps most famous for the menu of an official dinner. The Queen was served gibnut, a herbivorous rodent that has since been known as “The Royal Rat” or “The Queen’s Rat” due to the international press the menu received.
1994
The Queen next visited Belize in 1994 and was reportedly received by 90% of the country’s population when she landed at the airport in Belize City. On this visit, she travelled to San Ignacio and Punta Gorda, and saw the Mayan site of Cahal Pech; she also spoke at a special sitting of the National Assembly to discuss her pride in the country’s “robust democracy.”
Although The Queen has only visited Belize twice, other members of the Royal Family have paid visits over the seven decades of her reign. Princess Margaret visited in 1958, Princess Anne visited in 2001, and Prince Harry visited in 2012 to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
In a speech, Prince Harry said: “I bring to you warmest greetings from The Queen of Belize, whose Diamond Jubilee we are celebrating here tonight. Her Majesty has asked me to send her good wishes to you all. She remembers so fondly her visits to this beautiful realm and speaks of the warmth of welcome she received on her most recent visit in 1994.”
The Duke of Edinburgh visited Belize on three solo trips in 1962, 1975 and 1988. On his final solo visit, Prince Philip travelled in his role as President of the World Wide Fund for Nature.
