Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in the Province of British Colombia 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 | Toronto | Winnipeg
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After alighting from the Royal Train, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a ceremony on a specially-erected balcony in front of Vancouver’s new City hall, before driving through the streets of Vancouver, planting a tree at the Arboretum, watching a lacrosse game at Vancouver Stadium, and visiting Stanley Park.
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Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh then made their way to the city of Victoria, the capital of the Province of British Colombia, where there was a welcome at the Legislature Building, followed by a Parade and a Luncheon at the Empress Hotel. There was no Gala Performance or Official Dinner, and instead the Princess and Duke took a few days to rest at Eagle Crest on Vancouver Island, before continuing the rest of their Tour.
