What was the queen wearing? These requisite details always intrigued me in news stories when Her Majesty appeared in public – chapeaus, floral dresses, colour schemes, etc. But such was the interest in and love of the late British monarch that commoners had a need to know.

It’s hard to think of Britain, after all, without picturing the Queen (and her latest outfit), even – especially – as a tourist. It might be fairer to say that it’s the monarchy and its history and pageantry that draws us in, but Elizabeth, at least since 1952, has been the face of that monarchy.

For example, Windsor Castle has been home to 39 monarchs during its thousand-year history, but in our lifetimes is better known as one of Elizabeth II’s favourite homes. The raising or lowering of a flag in the castle indicated to visitors whether she was “at home.”

And Windsor is as necessary to any sightseeing tour of England as the Queen’s more regular home, Buckingham Palace, which is arguably the world’s most famous palace. Who could imagine visiting London (at least the first time), without checking out the changing of the guards? Or marvelling at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London?

Across the capital, the Queen has been intrinsically associated with dozens of must-visit sites for visitors including Westminster Abbey (her wedding and coronation), and St. Paul’s Cathedral (Charles and Diana’s wedding – watched on TV by 750 million people and inspiring 600,000 people to line the streets of London in 1981 just to get a glimpse of the newlyweds). Living in London for the summer at the time, I wasn’t one of them (working), but I did join half a million people in Hyde Park for the pre-wedding Royal Fireworks.

Then there’s Westminster Palace where on 67 (out of 70) occasions, Her Majesty addressed the House of Lords in her annual Queen’s Speech, plus Kensington Palace, and several parks. For 70 years, she also presided over the world’s largest private art collection, owned by the British Royal Family, at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The list is lengthy, as it is across the country, extending to Scotland, where the Royal Yacht Britannia beckoned visitors in Edinburgh, and the Queen’s beloved Balmoral Castle where she died last week.

And events, like the Royal Ascot races, and more occasional milestones like this year’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, which has inspired events across the UK enjoyed by citizens and visitors alike (similarly, the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 that marked 60 years on the throne).

If you watched the recent Jubilee concert on TV, you would have delighted at her intro: having tea with a virtual Paddington Bear in Buckingham Palace as she began to tap a spoon on her teacup to the iconic beat of “We Will Rock You” being played live on stage in front of the palace by namesake rock band Queen.

And who could forget the scene she filmed simulating jumping out of a helicopter with “James Bond” (actor Daniel Craig) strapped to Union Jack parachutes to arrive at the opening of London’s 2012 Summer Olympic Games, only to be introduced for real with Prince Phillip moments later? “Never can Her Majesty have been introduced to her public in a manner like that… and the crowd have loved it,” cooed one commentator.
Her Majesty was a great sport – including having dropped the puck at a Vancouver Canucks hockey game (overshadowing Wayne Gretzky) on Oct. 6, 2002, which was one of 22 visits to Canada over the years (the last time in 2010), among them Expo ’67 in Montreal and constitutional patriation in 1982. Each occasion indirectly provided a plug to her country and inspiring Canadians to want to visit.

The Queen, after all, has always been Britain’s best tourism ambassador (even if indirectly and the mere notion somewhat undignified).

More notably, there have also been the highest of profile weddings (her own and her children and grandchildren’s), royal babies, a coronation, and, yes, funerals. All avidly consumed by Brits, Anglophiles, and the merely curious across the world.

Charles III has taken over the throne and will aspire to earn as a monarch the love and respect that his mother garnered during her remarkable 96 years, and to fan the fantasies of royal watchers and potential visitors to Britain.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth won’t be remembered with the notoriety of many of her historic royal predecessors (thankfully), but her legacy will “carry on” for more compelling reasons.

As The Beatles sang, “Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl” – and that’s why we loved her.