King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in Ottawa on their first Visit as Sovereigns to Canada, where King Charles III will be the first Sovereign to open the Canadian Parliament in almost five decades in the latest of 250 years of Royal Visits to Canada.
Upon arrival in Ottawa, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were received by Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney in a welcome ceremony at the Airport in Ottawa.
Afterwards, the King and Queen Camilla joined a community event showcasing the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Canada in Lansdowne Park, during which they had the opportunity to meet Canadians from across the country, from a range of organisations.
At Rideau Hall, the King and Queen Camilla planted a tree in the grounds to mark the visit, near the site of the sugar maple tree which the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall planted during their tour of Canada in 2017.
The King held audiences with the Governor-General and Prime Minister Carney before a short ceremony to swear in the Queen as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
The first day of the visit concluded with a short reception for Lieutenant Governors from each of the 10 Canadian provinces, and Territorial Commissioners from the three territories.
Queen Camilla is wearing the Queen Mother’s Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to undertake their first Visit as Sovereigns to Canada next week, which will be the latest in almost 250 years of Royal Visits to Canada! This will be the King and Queen’s first visit to Canada as Sovereigns, and their first since 2022.
The future King William IV was the first member of the royal family to visit the Newfoundland Colony, the colony of Nova Scotia, and the Province of Quebec, arriving in 1786 and staying until 1788. A few years later, his brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent lived in Canada between 1791 and 1800, serving as the Commander-in-Chief of British forces in North America, being called the ‘Father of the Canadian Crown for his contribution to the development of Canada.
The next major Royal Visit to Canada came in 1860, when the then Prince of Wales undertook a two-month tour of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Province of Canada in 1860, followed y Prince Alfred’s five-week tour of The Maritimes, Newfoundland, and the Province of Canada in 1861 and Prince Arthur’s stay in Canada in 1869 and 1870. Prince Alfred was the Commander of the Royal Navy’s North Atlantic Squadron between 1878 and 1883 while the future King George V was stationed in the Maritimes in 1882.
In 1878, Princess Louise became the Viceregal Consort when her husband the Marquess of Lorne, was created the Governor General of Canada, becoming very popular during their five-year tenure.
The future King George V and Queen Mary, then the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York embarked on a major Tour of all Canadian Provinces between September and November 1901, as part of an eight-month Tour of the British Empire, with the Prince of Wales returning for the Tercentenary of Quebec City in 1908.
From 1911 to 1916, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn served as the Governor General of Canada becoming so popular with the Duchess and Princess Patricia that their two-year term was extended up to five years.
In 1919, the Prince of Wales, late King Edward VIII, undertook a major landmark Tour of Canada between August and October, visiting all Canadian Provinces.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited every Canadian Province on their landmark month-long Tour of Canada in 1939, ahead of the outbreak of the Second World War, which was the first visit to North America by the Reigning Monarch.
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone became the Viceregal Consort when her husband, the Earl of Athlone, was created the Governor General of Canada in 1940, becoming very popular during their six-year tenure.
In 1951, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, British Colombia, New Brunswick, Halifax, Charlottetown, and Newfoundland on their first Tour of Canada just a few months before her Accession to the Throne.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made a brief visit to Canada in October 1957 to open the 23rd Canadian Parliament, which was followed by their first State Visit to the United States.
Princess Margaret visited Canada to mark the centennial of the Colony of British Columbia in 1958, visiting seven Canadian Provinces on an extensive four-week Tour to promote Canadian Tourism. Princess Margaret was in Canada again in 1971, in 1980 for the 75th anniversary of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s entry into Confederation, in 1981, in 1986, in 1988, in 1993, and in 1996.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were back for an extensive six-week Tour of Canada in the summer of 1959, to visit every Canadian Province and Territory and to open the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which again was followed by a visit to the United States as ‘Queen of Canada’,
In 1964, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were in Canada for the centenary of the Confederation Conferences, returning again in 1967 for the Canadian Centennial.
The Queen Mother returned to Canada for nine Official Tours between 1950 and 2002, marking the centennial of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in 1962, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1965, opening the Royal BC Museum in 1966, taking part in the Canadian Centennial celebrations in 1967, visiting the Toronto Scottish Regiment and presenting the Queen’s Colours to the Black Watch Regiment in 1974, presenting The Queen’s Colours to the Canadian Forces Maritime Command in 1979, attending the Queen’s Plate and celebrating the bicentennial of Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1981, to attend the Queen’s Plate in 1985, to 125th anniversary of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in 1987, and to attend the Queen’s Plate in 1989.
The Prince of Wales and Princess Anne joined the Queen and Duke for a 10-Day visit to Canada in 1970, to mark the centenary of Manitoba’s entry into Confederation as well as the Northwest Territories. Princess Anne and the Queen and Duke were back in Canada to mark the centenary of British Columbia’s entry into Confederation in 1971.
In 1973, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were in Canada for the centenary of PEI’s entry into Confederation, tercentenary of Kingston, centennial of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, returning few weeks later for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Ottawa.
The entire Royal Family came to Canada in 1976 to open and attend the 1976 Montreal Olympics, in which Princess Anne participated.
The Queen and Duke were back in Canada the following year, for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and the open the 3rd session of 30th Parliament.
The Royal Family were back in Canada in 1978, to open the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton while also touring Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Four years later, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were in Canada to sign the Constitution Act 1982 which formally removed the last vestiges of the British Parliament in Canada.
The then Prince of Wales visited Canada on eighteen different occasions between 1970 and 2022, with the Prince and Princess of Wales making an extensive Tour in 1983, visiting Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta.
The Queen and Duke visited British Columbia on their visit to Canada in 1983, and marked the bicentennial of New Brunswick and the bicentennial of Ontario in 1984, before visiting British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec in 1987, with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver.
In 1986, the Prince and Princess of Wales toured British Columbia, visiting Vancouver to open Expo 86, as well as Victoria, Prince George, Kamloops and Nanaimo.
The Queen made a brief visit to Canada in 1990 for the presentation of new Queen’s Colour to the Calgary Highlanders and another short visit in 1992 for the 125th anniversary of Confederation and her Ruby Jubilee.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were in Canada in 1991, visiting Toronto, Sudbury, Niagara Falls, Kingston, and Ottawa, with Prince William and Prince Harry, who also joined the Prince of Wales in Vancouver and Whistler in 1998.
In 1994, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were in Canada for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, visiting Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories, waiting a few years due to the Quebec Referendum before their next visit in 1997, for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Newfoundland.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited British Columbia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The Queen and Duke were back in Canada in 2005 to mark the centenary of the entry of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec on their first joint Tour of Canada in 2009.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh made their final visit to Canada in 2010, to celebrate the centenary of the Canadian navy, attend the Queen’s Plate, open a new terminal at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, and lay the cornerstone of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, amongst other events.
The newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario on their fist Tour of Canada in 2011.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Ontario, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and marking the centennial of the start of the First World War and the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences in 2014.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte on their Tour of Western Canada in 2016, visiting British Columbia and Yukon.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Canada in 2017 for the 150th Anniversary of Confederation with another trip in 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
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Imperial State Crown
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Queen’s Five Aquamarine Tiara
George IV State Diadem
Queen Mary’s Crown
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
The Cartier Halo Tiara
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King George VI Festoon Necklace
