This summer, Canada will welcome
Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton as they embark on a tour of the country Queen Elizabeth II
has affectionately dubbed her “second home.” On their first royal tour as husband and wife, the couple will
begin their “honeymoon” excursion on the East Coast and culminate a whirlwind week of appearances, speeches
and events in British Columbia.
Canadian tours have been a Royal Family tradition for more than 300 years, with Queen Elizabeth II completing
her 22nd cross-country trip last summer. Now that it’s come time to pass the torch (and the travel bug) on to
a new generation of royalty, Lifestyle takes a look back at some of the Canadian landmarks and events
frequented by members of the Royal Family.
Edmonton, Alta. ROYAL TEA AT THE FAIRMONT HOTEL MACDONALD
Since its inception in 1915, Royal Tea at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has been a hot spot on the royal tours
of Canada. King Edward VIII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth (popularly known as the Queen Mum) and Queen
Elizabeth II have all indulged in the hotel’s finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and truffles during
afternoon tea. The Fairmont Empress in Victoria and The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto have also had the
pleasure of serving the Royal Family their hotel’s signature blends — The Empress even doles out its
delicacies on the same china King George VI and Queen Elizabeth used during their stay in 1939.
Toronto, Ont. THE QUEEN’S PLATE: A ROYAL TRADITION
No, it’s not a lavish banquet — the Queen’s Plate is a thoroughbred horse race that takes place at the
Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. In fact, the grand prize isn’t a plate at all. It’s a gold cup awarded to the
winner of North America’s longest-running stakes race, which is celebrating its 152nd anniversary this year.
Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Philip were the guests of honour at the Queen’s Plate in
July 2010, pulling up to the race in true royal fashion in a horse-drawn carriage. One of its co-founders,
Thomas Patteson, once wrote that he dreamt about the day “when the Queen herself would be present for the
running of the Queen’s Plate.” Patteson got his wish — last year marked the Queen’s fourth time attending the
race.
Waterloo, Ont. RESEARCH IN MOTION
Rumour has it that even Queen Elizabeth II is a self-professed Blackberry addict. During her 2010
cross-Canada tour, she visited the Research in Motion headquarters in Waterloo, Ont., where she was presented
with a Royal Blackberry — a Blackberry Bold 9700 preloaded with a wallpaper image of schoolchildren offering
her flowers. Later in Toronto, the Queen donned a pair of custom-designed 3D glasses at Pinewood Studios, her
new bejewelled shades peeking out from under the lavender brim of her hat as she watched part of a movie by
Deepa Mehta.
Ottawa, Ont. THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE
During her 22nd Canadian tour in June 2010, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh took a couple of
hours out of their itinerary jam-packed with walkabouts and public addresses to tour the Canadian Museum of
Nature in the nation’s capital. The newly refurbished museum features exhibits like the breathtaking Vale
Earth Gallery: A collection of rocks, minerals and gemstones that would put even the Queen’s jewelry box to
shame.
Vancouver, B.C. VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS
GAME
Nothing could have provided a starker contrast to sweaty hockey players and a crowd of rowdy fans wedged into
General Motors Place (now Rogers Arena) than an appearance by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. The Queen, wearing
gloves, pearls and carrying a handbag, tottered down a red carpet to centre ice to ceremoniously drop the
puck for the Canucks vs. Sharks game. A boys’ choir singing “God Save the Queen” serenaded her, while the
hockey players banged their sticks on the ice in respect.
Halifax, N.S. A CELEBRATION OF NOVA SCOTIA
Overlooking the waterfront at the busy Pier 23 in Halifax, the Cunard Centre is a renovated cargo shed fitted
to accommodate 2,200 formal banquet guests — two of whom were Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
during the summer of 2010. The evening the couple attended, aptly titled “A Celebration of Nova Scotia,” was
an awards ceremony that paid tribute to Nova Scotia’s “unsung heroes,” those who have worked to make their
community, province or country a better place. The royal couple looked on as the night’s honourees were
commemorated with an evening of song and dance.
Winnipeg, Man. THE FORKS
In July of 2010, thousands greeted Queen Elizabeth II as she entered The Forks to unveil the cornerstone of
the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, dressed for the summery event in a lime-green jacket and a pink hat
perched atop her silver curls, with white-gloved hands daintily clutching a bouquet of flowers. During her
whirlwind Winnipeg tour, the Queen paused to watch a concert in the downtown core’s urban oasis, enjoying
performances by Canadian favourites Chantal Kreviazuk, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and vocal quintet Chic
Gamine. •
PHOTO CREDITS
Photo courtesy The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
