1939 royal tour of Canada
The 1939 royal tour of Canada by
The King and Queen arrived by ship up the
It was the first visit by a reigning monarch of Canada and also the first time a Canadian monarch had set foot south in the United States.
This tour also marked the first time that the
Almost a half-century later (in 1985), during another tour of Canada, Queen Elizabeth, by then the
Background and planning
Elizabeth's mother had died in 1938, and so Norman Hartnell designed an all-white wardrobe for her delayed state visit to France that year. In Canada in 1939 she wore elements of this white mourning, which forms a distinctive feature of the black and white photographs of the tour.
First portion of the tour (17 May – 7 June)
The first portion of the royal tour occurred from 17 May 1939, when the royal couple arrived in Quebec City, to 7 June 1939, when George VI and Mackenzie King departed Canada to conduct a state visit to the United States. The first portion of the Canadian royal tour, saw the royal couple visit every province in Canada, excluding the provinces in Atlantic Canada, which was toured following George VI and Mackenzie King's return from the United States on 12 June.
Arrival in Quebec
The arrangements were made, and on 17 May 1939, the royal couple arrived in Quebec City for their tour of Canada on board the
The king and queen took up residence at
Ontario
The royal party traveled to Ottawa on 20 May, where the Queen laid the cornerstone of the Supreme Court building.[12] In her speech, she said, "perhaps it is not inappropriate that this task should be performed by a woman; for woman's position in a civilized society has depended upon the growth of law."[13] The King dedicated the National War Memorial in front of 10,000 war veterans[9] (among whom the Queen requested she be able to walk,[14]) and the couple went to Parliament. There, the King personally granted royal assent to nine bills in the traditional manner which was still being used in Canada at the time – in the United Kingdom, Royal Assent has not been granted by the Sovereign in person since 1854.
On Parliament Hill, the King's official Canadian birthday (known today as Victoria Day) was marked for the first time with a traditional Trooping of the Colour.[15] Because he attended this parade instead of the annual trooping on Horse Guards Parade, the one in London was presided by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. Queen Elizabeth and Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir watched the parade from East Block.[16] The King was accompanied at the reviewing box Prime Minister Mackenzie King, Minister of National Defence Ian Alistair Mackenzie and the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Ernest Charles Ashton.[17] The trooping saw members of the Governor General's Foot Guards from Ottawa and the Canadian Grenadier Guards from Montreal, both of which make up the Brigade of Canadian Guards, parade before the King.
After two days in Ottawa, the royal couple began travelling westward.
The Queen Elizabeth Way was opened by the King and Queen in June, 1939, marking the first visit of a reigning sovereign to a sister Dominion of the Empire. The courage and resolution of Their Majesties in undertaking the royal visit in face of imminent war have inspired the people of this province to complete this work in the Empire's darkest hour, in full confidence of victory and a feeling of lasting peace.
Westward leg
The Royal Train was operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the western leg of the tour and the couple continued to be greeted by throngs of Canadians, even in the immigrant-rich but Depression-battered Prairies.
The couple visited Winnipeg and Brandon on 24 May. Upon their arrival in Winnipeg, on the King's official birthday, the royal couple was greeted by an estimated 100,000 people (including several thousand Americans), and, to allow them all a view of himself and the Queen, the King requested that the convertible roof of their limousine be opened, despite a record rainfall that day.[19][20] While staying at Government House in Winnipeg, the King made his longest-ever radio broadcast to the British Empire;[21] the table at which he sat remains in the Aides Room of the royal residence.[22] Then, Prime Minister Mackenzie King described the arrival of the royal train at Brandon: "Wonderful cheering. A long bridge overhead crowded with people. The hour: 11 at night... the finest scene on the entire trip."[20][21] The Queen herself said the reception was "the biggest thrill of the tour."[21]
Continuing westward across the Prairies, the Royal Train arrived in Regina on 25 May, followed by Calgary on 26 May and Banff on 27 May. A minor gaffe occurred at Calgary, as described by one of the military officers on parade with the Guard of Honour:[23]
- After some conventional compliments on the turnout of the escort, the King had said that he had not expected either such crowds or a ceremonial military welcome. When he had asked Mackenzie King what to expect in Calgary, the Prime Minister has said it was only a small place of little consequence and that there would not be much there. When he saw the guard of honour waiting on the platform, he realized that he should have been in uniform and went back inside the train. But it was, of course, too late to change. (Major) Bradbrooke got the impression that the King was not at all pleased with his Canadian Prime Minister's advice that day.
In Banff, Their Majesties and Mackenzie King posed for press photographs at the Banff Springs Hotel. The King and Queen also attended a private service at St George-in-the-Pines Anglican church.
British Columbia
The King and the Queen stopped in Vancouver, Victoria, and a number of other smaller communities in British Columbia. Mackenzie King was enthused, stating in his diary on 29 May 1939, "the day in Vancouver was one of the finest on the entire tour," and, the following day: "Without question, Victoria has left the most pleasing of all impressions. It was a crowning gem..."[24]
At one night time stop in the Rocky Mountains, the royal couple sang along with an impromptu a cappella rendition of "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain" that broke out amongst the gathered crowd when the moon emerged from behind the clouds.[25]
Return to the east
When the royal couple arrived in
State visit to the United States (7–12 June)
In the United States from 7–12 June,
Another factor, however, was public relations; the presence of the King and Queen, in both Canada and the United States, was calculated to shore up sympathy for Britain in anticipation of hostilities with Nazi Germany.[41][42]
The itinerary included visits to Mount Vernon on 9 June, the 1939 New York World's Fair on 10 June, and dinner at Roosevelt's estate at Hyde Park on 11 June, at which President Roosevelt served hot dogs, smoked turkey, and strawberry shortcake to the royal couple.[43][44] The 2012 film Hyde Park on Hudson starring Bill Murray contains a lengthy fictionalized depiction of the royal couple's visit to the Roosevelt estate.
Resumption of the tour (12–15 June)
On 12 June the royal couple returned to Canada to continue their royal tour of the country, visiting the
After a visit to
The King and Queen visited St. John's, Newfoundland.[46]
Legacy
Elizabeth told Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, "that tour made us",
For the visit the Canadian government issued its second commemorative
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "CBC: Royal Visits to Canada". Cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Galbraith, William; Canadian Parliamentary Review: "Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit"; Vol. 12, No. 3, 1989". Parl.gc.ca. 24 September 1997. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ Galbraith, William (1989), "Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit" (PDF), Canadian Parliamentary Review, 12 (3), Ottawa: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: 7–8, retrieved 14 December 2009
- ISBN 1-55002-065-X
- ^ Lanctot, Gustave (1964), Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Canada and the United States of America 1939, Toronto: E. P. Taylor Foundation
- ^ King, William Lyon Mackenzie. "The Royal Tour of 1939". Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1893 to 1950. Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ Hubbard; p. 191
- ^ ISBN 1-55002-151-6. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ a b Douglas & Greenhous 1995, p. 17
- ^ Toporoski, Richard (June 2006). "Can the Queen Grant Royal Assent in a Provincial Legislature?: No" (PDF). Canadian Monarchist News. Fall-Winter 2005 (24). Toronto: Monarchist League of Canada: 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ Elizabeth II (2002). "Speech by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > The Canadian Monarchy. Department of Canadian Heritage. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
- ^ "Senate of Canada: Canada, a Constitutional Monarchy: George VI". Parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "At Home in Canada": Royalty at Canada's Historic Places, Canad's Historic Places, retrieved 30 April 2023
- ^ Douglas & Greenhous 1995, p. 18
- ^ "The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on May 20, 1939 · Page 3". Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 9781459736740.
- ^ "Trooping the Colour / Birthday Parade / Ottawa". YouTube.
- ^ Douglas & Greenhous 1995, p. 19
- ^ "On This Day > May 24, 1939". CBC. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ a b c King, William L.M. (24 May 1939), "Diary", in Hoogenraad, Maureen (ed.), Biography and People > A Real Companion and Friend > Politics, Themes, and Events from King's Life > The Royal Tour of 1939, Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada, archived from the original on 30 October 2009, retrieved 24 June 2009
- ^ a b c "Society > The Monarchy > Presenting 'Chief Sitting Albino'". CBC. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. "History > Government House > Aides Room". Queen's Printer for Manitoba. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ISBN 1-55238-129-3pp.116-117
- ^ King, William L.M. (30 May 1939). "Diary". In Hoogenraad, Maureen (ed.). Biography and People > A Real Companion and Friend > Politics, Themes, and Events from King's Life > The Royal Tour of 1939. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-55002-572-9. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ISSN 1199-5122. Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ISBN 0-88864-423-X, retrieved 10 July 2011
- ^ "Quebec City rolls out the red carpet for 1939 Royal Tour". CBC. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ Office of Communications (8 January 1999). "1939 royal visit to Saskatoon and campus elicited outpouring of loyalty (and purple journalism)". On Campus News. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Larson, Glen C. (18 May 2018). "The 1939 Royal Visit to Saskatoon". Glenclarson.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ Museum of History. "Exhibitions > Online Exhibitions > 2. King Wheat - Saskatchewan Grain Elevator > 1939 Royal Tour". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "The British Royal Visit June 7–12, 1939". Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- S2CID 159572988, archived from the original(PDF) on 25 July 2011, retrieved 30 August 2010
- ISBN 1-55002-065-X.
- ISBN 1-55002-151-6
- ^ Lanctot, Gustave (1964). Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Canada and the United States of America 1939. Toronto: E.P. Taylor Foundation. ASIN B0006EB752.
- ISBN 9781459700840
- ^ Library and Archives Canada. "Biography and People > A Real Companion and Friend > Behind the Diary > Politics, Themes, and Events from King's Life > The Royal Tour of 1939". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
- ^ "CBC Digital Archives: Their Majesties in Canada: 1939 Royal Tour". Archives.cbc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ Diary of Mackenzie King; 17 May 1939
- ^ Goodwin, op. cit.
- ^ Douglas & Greenhous 1995, p. 12
- ^ "Itinerary of the Royal Visit June 7 to June 12, 1939" (PDF). Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ "That time FDR served hot dogs to the king, and three other strange state dinner facts". The Washington Post. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Society > The Monarchy > A word from the Queen". CBC. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
- ^ "Society > The Monarchy > A fond farewell". CBC. 15 June 1939. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
- ^ Bradford, p.281
- ^ Past Royal Tours - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (d. March 30, 2002), Government of Canada, 31 January 2017, archived from the original on 16 February 2017, retrieved 16 February 2017
- ^ "Coins and Canada - Canada, one dollar, 1939 - Articles on canadian coins". www.coinsandcanada.com.
- ^ George VI & Elizabeth - 3 cents 1939 - Canadian stamp
Further reading
- Arthur Bousfield; Garry Toffoli (December 1989). Royal Spring: The Royal Tour of 1939 and the Queen Mother in Canada. Dundurn Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-55002-065-6. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
External links
- Map and timeline of the 1939 Royal Tour
- The Royal Visit, National Film Board of Canada
- Their Majesties in Canada: The 1939 Royal Tour, CBC Digital Archive
- Amateur footage of 1939 World's Fair and Royal Visit (1939) on YouTube from the Archives of Ontario
- British Newsreel of the 1939 Royal Tour by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in BC on YouTube
- Canadian Newsreel of the entire visit to Canada on YouTube from Library and Archives Canada
- Royal Banners Over Ottawa (1939) on YouTube
- King George & Queen Elizabeth, Canadian Tour 1939/5/22 on YouTube
- Royal Tour Of Canada - 1939 on YouTube