Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in the City of Toronto during their extensive Tour of Canada on this day in 1951, different phases of which we are individually covering over the next few weeks. Following a busy Summer, with the Opening of the Festival of Britain, the Danish State Visit, the Norwegian State Visit, the Tour of Canada was the first sign of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke, who had given up his Naval Career, becoming full-time working Royals in the last few months of King George VI’s life, ahead of her Accession to the Throne. 

Princess Elizabeth in Quebec | Ottawa

Oct 12, 1951: HRH Princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Toronto at Malton airport. Although most of the tour was conducted by train, the Royal couple flew from Trenton to Toronto in order to keep the tour on schedule. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/lPWW0ZkgG8

— Toronto Railway Museum (@TORailwayMuseum) October 12, 2019

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Today in 1951, Toronto’s streets are lined as well wishers welcome Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip on their first Royal Visit to Canada. The five-week tour took the couple across the country just 4-months before she became Canada’s Queen. #cdnpoli #cdnhist #topoli #cdncrown pic.twitter.com/SuTxTot6w1

— Canadian Crown 🇨🇦 (@Canadian_Crown) October 13, 2020

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In 1951 Princess Elizabeth made her first coast to coast tour of Canada. Here she visits Toronto Oct 13, 1951 pic.twitter.com/3Ey3Yhcc0y

— Coronation News & Updates (@Coronation2023) October 12, 2013

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#royal The then Princess Elizabeth is greeted by Toronto Maple Leaf captain Ted Teeder Kennedy, Canada 1951 (TorontoSun) pic.twitter.com/DAWvQIDB6M

— Mace (@RoyaleVision) August 11, 2017

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Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh landed at Malton Airport, and attended a spectacular Civic Reception outside City Hall in Toronto, followed by a drive through Riverdale Park. The Princess inspected members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada during a visit to the University Avenue Armory, before visiting Sunnybrook Hospital and dropping the puck at the season opener between Chicago and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Today in 1951, The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) made her first visit to Toronto. 300,000 spectators cheered as the Princess & Duke of Edinburgh were driven from Malton (now Pearson) Airport to City Hall. (Photo: Arrival at The Royal York) #cdnhist #to #cdncrown #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/3ZPrepvpq1

— Canadian Crown 🇨🇦 (@Canadian_Crown) October 12, 2020

T.R.H. The Duke and The Duchess of Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/BsfejC0TKa

— Mace (@RoyaleVision) October 16, 2020

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In the evening, Princess Elizabeth (wearing the Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara, her Bahrain Pearl Earrings, the  Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace, and the Order of the Garter) and the Duke of Edinburgh were guests of Honour at a spectacular Banquet hosted by the Ontario Government at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

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Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were also pictured alighting from the Royal Train to dine with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at the Legislative Building in Toronto, on the last evening of their visit in Toronto, before they moved on to the maritime provinces.

Before she was our Queen, Princess Elizabeth made her first visit to Toronto this week in 1951. This is a part of our Toronto-centric #tbt, which offers a weekly look back at some key moments in the city’s history. pic.twitter.com/tAzXFj67Qd

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) October 10, 2019

Oct 12, 1951: HRH Princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Toronto at Malton airport. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/lBFPmoK3pR

— Toronto Railway Museum (@TORailwayMuseum) October 12, 2017