The public held Queen Elizabeth II in high esteem and eagerly awaited her visits. She was usually accompanied on her trips to Canada—especially to Ottawa—by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Let’s look back at both her official and unofficial visits to Ottawa and recall what made them memorable. Ottawa Yes will help us revisit every detail.
Background: The Road to the Throne
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London in 1926. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York and was third in line to the throne—nobody expected she would one day become monarch.
In 1936, Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry a divorced woman—Wallis Simpson. As a result, Elizabeth’s father became king, and she became his heir.
Around that time, the princess met her future husband—the Prince of Greece and Denmark. In 1947, a grand wedding took place at Westminster Abbey between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, boosting the morale of the British public.
In 1948, Prince Charles was born, followed by Princess Anne in 1950. In 1960, the Queen gave birth to Prince Andrew, and in 1964, to Prince Edward.
Princess Elizabeth in Ottawa
Her very first visit to Canada’s capital took place in 1951, when she was still Princess Elizabeth.
Archival photos show the Duke of Edinburgh dancing playfully with Princess Elizabeth at an event hosted in their honour in Ottawa. It was organized by Governor General Viscount Alexander on October 17, 1951, as part of the Canadian tour.
Queen Elizabeth II later spoke fondly of her 1951 visit to Canada, which happened just a few months before she ascended the throne. Canadians prepared meticulously for the arrival of the royal couple, making sure they had the proper greeting and attire ready.
When the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth arrived in Canada, she already had two children: Charles, who was two, and Anne, who was just a year old. The official nature of this visit is well documented in Allan Michie’s 1953 book God Save the Queen. Another book, The Royal Family (1953) by Burton, describes the couple’s return to Canada.
First Visit as Queen
In October 1957, Queen Elizabeth travelled to Ottawa and Hull to open the first fall session of the 23rd Canadian Parliament. She was greeted by about 15,000 schoolchildren at Lansdowne Park, alongside her husband.
This was her first official visit to Canada as Queen. In 1952, King George VI had passed away, and his daughter took the throne. She also became Head of the Church of England and the Commonwealth of Nations. Her coronation in June 1953 was a lavish affair broadcast worldwide to an audience of more than 277 million.
A 45-Day Tour Across Canada
In the summer of 1959, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Canada (June 18 to August 1). They stopped in every province, arriving in Ottawa on Dominion Day and later taking part in the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
An 8-Day Tour
In October 1964, the royal couple went to Charlottetown, Quebec City, and Ottawa for events marking the 100th anniversary of the Confederation Conferences. Queen Elizabeth and her husband spent Thanksgiving in Ottawa during this trip.
Canada’s Centennial
In June and July 1967, the Queen and Prince Philip returned to Ottawa to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary and were present at Expo67. They spent a total of six days in Ottawa and Montreal.
1973
Five years later, the royal couple returned to Ottawa once again, this time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. While Prince Philip attended events on his own schedule, Queen Elizabeth II held audiences with the Commonwealth leaders at Rideau Hall.
Silver Jubilee
In October 1977, the royal couple visited Ottawa for five days to celebrate the Silver Jubilee and to open the third session of Canada’s 30th Parliament. One of the highlights was the Throne Speech delivered by Queen Elizabeth II.
Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution
On April 17, 1982, Queen Elizabeth II made a four-day visit to Ottawa to proclaim the Constitution of Canada.
1984
In September and October 1984, the royal couple travelled across Canada to mark the 200th anniversaries of New Brunswick and Ontario, making a stop in Ottawa as part of their trip.
1990
For Canada Day celebrations in 1990, Queen Elizabeth II visited Ottawa on her own.
The 1992 Visit
The Queen returned to Ottawa without the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the 125th anniversary of Confederation and the 40th anniversary of accession. She was a guest of honour in Hull at a reception hosted by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
During this visit, the Queen shook hands with then Ottawa city councillor Jim Watson, a moment captured in a photograph that still exists today.
1997 and Canada’s 130th Anniversary
This official visit coincided with the 500th anniversary of John Cabot’s arrival on what is now Canadian soil. The visit concluded in Ottawa, where the Queen took part in Canada’s 130th anniversary celebrations.
2002
To celebrate her Golden Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip made an 11-day visit to Canada—the last stop on their Commonwealth tour. In Ottawa, the Queen paid her respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and attended a luncheon at Rideau Hall with 51 notable Canadians.
2010 Visit
This time, the Queen arrived in Ottawa with her husband for a three-day stay that included Canada Day celebrations. It was her seventh time attending Canada’s national holiday. The planned tour also took her to Winnipeg, Toronto, and Waterloo.
While in Ottawa, Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative plaque at the Canadian Museum of Nature and a statue honoring the great jazz musician Oscar Peterson near the National Arts Centre.
During Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill, over 100,000 people gathered. The Queen declared:
“This nation has dedicated itself to being a caring home for its own, a sanctuary for others, and an example to the world.”
Number of Visits to Canada
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96. She was the head of state in Canada and the longest-serving British monarch, spending her last days under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
She took on leadership of her country and the Commonwealth—including Canada—at the relatively young age of 25. Over seven decades, Queen Elizabeth witnessed profound changes within Canada and abroad: the decline of the British Empire, the decolonization of many African and Caribbean nations, and the cessation of hostilities with Irish republicans.
Queen Elizabeth II was the most recognized woman in the world, living 24/7 under public scrutiny. Early in her reign, she faced her father King George VI’s death, the divorces of three of her four children, and the death of her daughter-in-law, Diana. Throughout all these events, she believed in giving her heart and commitment to the people—this sense of duty guided her entire life.
The Coronation of Charles III
After his mother’s death, Prince Charles automatically became King.
The Coronation of Charles III was scheduled for May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London. During the ceremony, the King would be crowned alongside Camilla, who would receive the title of Queen Consort.
Recall that over 8,000 guests attended Elizabeth II’s coronation. This historic ceremony is traditionally broadcast live around the world.
