This is the one European country the Queen has NEVER visited… and there’s a surprising reason why
Royal duties have taken the Queen all over the world, but there's one European country she's missed out
THERE'S one European country the Queen has never visited... and the reason why has a lot to do with her husband, Prince Philip.
As part of her job as head of state, the Queen has spent much of her 65-year reign visiting other countries and boosting Britain's rep overseas.
These royal duties have taken the Queen to 116 nations all over the world, but there's one European country she's always missed off the list.
It turns out that the Queen has never visited Greece since taking to the throne, despite it being a European country popular with Brits.
Although she went as a young woman, before marrying Prince Philip in 1950, official duties have never taken our monarch to the southern European nation.
This may seem odd, given that Prince Philip was born into the Greek royal family, but it's precisely these ties to Greece which explain why the Queen has never been.
While Philip has returned to Greece before, to visit his mother before she moved to the UK in 1960, the royal consort has never been with his wife.
This is believed to be because of the Greek monarchy's uncomfortable history, which personally affected Prince Philip when he was forced to flee the country.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers told the BBC: "Prince Philip doesn't like Greece, because they put his father [Prince Andrew] on trial, and he might have been executed.
"In 1922, they all had to flee."
ROYAL RANKINGS Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their third child, but who’s ahead and behind in line for the Royal throne?
Prince Philip's family believed they were in danger after Philip's uncle, King Constantine I, was forced to give up the throne following World War One.
When his family was exiled in 1922, Prince Philip was just 18 months old, but has rarely returned to his country of birth since.
And Vickers suspects that these awkward personal ties may have "made things difficult", as far as state visits to Greece are concerned.
He also said that he suspected the Queen may have never been invited to make a state visit by the Greek president.
Previously, we revealed the reason why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry won't be wed at Westminster Abbey like William and Kate.
We also shared the incredible-looking dinners which Prince George will have at his new school.
