Britain’s royal family generated over £500 million in tourist revenues last year, according to the first survey of its kind by Visit Britain; with Russians, Brazilians and Malaysians the biggest fans of all things royal.

The Tower of London was the most popular Royal attraction with about 2.4 million tourists per annum, an increase of 11 percent on 2008.

About 987,000 people visited Windsor Castle – a rise of 6.3 percent, while 402,000 tourists saw Buckingham Palace in 2009, up 2 percent in a year.

Of the 30 million tourists in 2009, 5.8 million visited a castle, 5 million went to a historic house, while 6.4 million saw a religious monument.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 could be a “bonanza” year judging by the popularity of the monarchy among tourists, the organisation said.

About 2.37 million tourists visited the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
And 2.27 million people went to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: “This fascinating research shows Britain’s monarchic heritage draws foreign tourists to just about every corner of the country from Scotland to Cornwall.

“The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, a feat last accomplished back in 1897 by Queen Victoria.

“This report suggests that year she is going to generate a bonanza for British tourism.”

Top 10 British icons
1) Double decker red bus
2) Scottish castle
3) The Queen
4) Red telephone boxes
5) Stone houses
6) Union Jack
7) The London Eye
8) Football match
9) Draught beer
10) Green countryside