Scotland: Visit a new exhibit on Queen Elizabeth II and tour the royal yacht too

Royals fans who visit Edinburgh, Scotland, this summer can catch a new exhibit about Britain’s queen -- and get a discount on tours of the royal yacht too.

“The Queen: Art and Image,” at the Scottish National Gallery, celebrates the diamond jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

The queen, one of the longest reigning monarchs in British history, has been on the throne since 1952. During that time, her image has evolved from remote royal icon in diamond tiara to middle-aged granny in party hats and glasses.

Given a substantial boost by popular media coverage of her late daughter-in-law, Princess Diana, the queen’s reign has been marked by a major transition in the way the monarchy is portrayed and the way in which it portrays itself.

The new exhibit, running through Sept. 18, includes formal portraits, official photographs and candid press shots exploring the different ways that a modern monarch is seen by the public.

By displaying their tickets, exhibit visitors can get a 10% discount on tours of the Royal Yacht Britannia, docked in Edinburgh. The regular price of the tour is about $17.50 (11 British pounds).

If you miss “The Queen: Art and Image” at the Edinburgh museum, you’ll still have a chance to see the show. After its run in Scotland, the show will travel to Northern Ireland and Wales before arriving in London in May.

Info: Scottish National Gallery. Although entry to the gallery is free of charge, this exhibit has an admission fee of about $11 (7 British pounds). You can buy exhibit tickets online.