Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
A very special anniversary for a country with a very special place in the heart of Queen Elizabeth II took centre stage in one of her Christmas broadcasts.
In 1967, Canada celebrated its centenary. The Canadian Crown was established as separate (as were the other dominions) with the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
As Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth, visited the country in the summer of that year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canadian confederation. Joined by The Duke of Edinburgh, she spent six days in Canada for celebrations.
Looking back on her visit in her Christmas broadcast, Queen Elizabeth said ”Every once in a while an event occurs which seems to mark a milestone in history. For the Commonwealth, such an event was Canada’s centenary this year. A hundred years ago the confederation of the provinces of Canada laid the foundations for the country’s subsequent development… Canada has become… one of the leading industrial nations of the world. ”
In addition to celebrating Canada Day (1 July) on Parliament Hill, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also visited Expo ’67, the 1967 International and Universal Exposition. In her Christmas broadcast, The Queen commented on Canada’s accomplishments, noting ”The future of Canada as a great and prosperous country depends just as much on the will of the present generation to work together. It is for them to continue and expand the process of development which began with such high hopes one hundred years ago. Nothing has demonstrated this more forcefully than Expo ‘67, the remarkable international exhibition staged with such dramatic effect on a series of man-made islands in the St. Lawrence River.”