13 memorable royal visits to Vancouver (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
Prince William and his wife Kate will soon be arriving in Vancouver with Prince George and Princess Charlotte on their Royal Tour of Canada.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children will spend one day in our fair city on Sunday, September 25.
In anticipation of the Royal Family’s visit, we rooted out some archive photos and videos of previous Royal visits to Vancouver. Enjoy!
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall – 1901
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York on dock heading for C.P.R. station in 1901 (Public domain)
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, (Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s great-great-great-grandparents), visited Vancouver in 1901 as part of an Empire-wide voyage.
Ten years later, the Duke was crowned King George V, his wife became Queen Mary, and his son Prince Edward became heir to the throne.
Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York travelling down a Vancouver street in carriage in 1901 (Public domain)
Prince Edward – 1919
The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in uniform in Vancouver in 1919 (Public domain)
The young Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, visited Vancouver in 1919, when he was just 25 years old. Although he didn’t bring anyone along, he seems to have had a pretty good time.
The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in civilian clothes in Vancouver in 1919 (Public domain)
The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in military clothing in Vancouver in 1919 (Public domain)
Prince Edward and Prince George – 1927
The Prince of Wales (right), youngest brother Prince George (centre) and His Worship L.D. Taylor (left) in a car in Vancouver in 1927 (Public domain)
In 1927, a 33-year-old Prince Edward returned to Vancouver, this time with his youngest brother, 23-year-old Prince George, both looking pretty dapper.
Nine years on, Edward became king, but abdicated to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, leaving his brother Albert (Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s great-great-grandfather) to take the throne.
Confusingly, Albert was crowned King George VI, after choosing to use the same name as his father – and the youngest brother pictured on the right here.
The Prince of Wales (left), with his youngest brother Prince George (right) at the CPR station in Vancouver in 1927 (Public domain)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – 1939
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and William Lyon Mackenzie King at the Canadian National Railway dock in 1939 (Public domain)
The royal tour by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s great-great-grandparents) in 1939 was one of the first visits to Canada by a reigning monarch.
Speaking many years later about the tour, Elizabeth said, “I shall always look back upon that visit with feelings of affection and happiness.
“I think I lost my heart to Canada and Canadians, and my feelings have not changed with the passage of time.”
Queen Elizabeth speaking with Mayor Lyle Telford in Vancouver in 1939 (Public domain)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in a car while visiting Vancouver in 1939 (Public domain)
Princess Elizabeth – 1951
Princess Elizabeth signs the visitors book in the Mayor’s office in 1951 (City of Vancouver)
When King George VI was crowned, his eldest daughter Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne – and in 1951, made her first visit to Vancouver.
She was just 25 years old when she came to Canada, but only one year later, King George VI died and she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.
Now 90 years old, Elizabeth has four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren – including Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Princess Elizabeth planting a sapling in Queen Elizabeth Park in 1951 (Public domain)
Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Edinburgh, embarking HMCS Crusader in Vancouver for Victoria. (City of Vancouver)
Princess Margaret – 1958
Russ Baker, President of Pacific Western Airlines greeting Princess Margaret in 1958 (Baker, Russell / Library and Archives Canada / PA-102414)
The Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, visited Vancouver in 1958. For her efforts, she was granted an honorary Doctorate of Laws at UBC.
Princess Margaret receiving an honorary Doctorate of Laws from President N.A.M. MacKenzie at UBC in 1958 (Public domain)
Princess Margaret after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Laws from President N.A.M. MacKenzie at UBC in 1958 (Public domain)
Queen Mother – 1958
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in Vancouver in 1958 (Public domain)
The Queen’s mother, Elizabeth, now known simply as the Queen Mother, returned to Vancouver alone in 1958.
The Queen Mother was only on an overnight stopover, but she still found time to visit the mayor’s office.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother signs the guest book in the Mayor’s office in Vancouver in 1958 (Public domain)
Prince Charles and Princess Diana – 1986
Heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Princess Diana (Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s grandparents) visited Vancouver for Expo 86.
Charles and Diana had been married for five years at the time; 10 years later they divorced. Sadly, one year after that, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris.
Princess Margaret – 1986
Princess Margaret at Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in 1986 (Public domain)
The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret also visited Vancouver in 1986, although hers was a visit to Van Dusen Gardens, rather than Expo 86.
Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry – 1998
One year after their mother was killed, Prince Charles brought sons Princes William and Harry to Vancouver for a day, before heading up to Whistler to go skiing.
William was 15 years old when he came to Vancouver. Only three years later, he would meet his future wife Kate at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth II – 2002
Queen Elizabeth II returned to Vancouver in 2002, to carry out the very serious task of dropping the ceremonial puck for the Canucks at Rogers Arena.
On this day in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II dropped the ceremonial puck for the Canucks at Rogers Arena. #20in20 pic.twitter.com/hBZkHfVdZ0
— Rogers Arena (@RogersArena) October 6, 2015
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall – 2009
Prince Charles brought his second wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Vancouver in 2009 to tour the Olympic Village.
Their trip was Vancouver’s last high profile royal visit – it’s hard to imagine, but back in 2009, William and Kate weren’t even engaged, let alone married with two children.
William, Kate, George and Charlotte – 2016
Back to present day! Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, plus their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte will arrive in Vancouver on Sunday.
They’ll begin their tour with an official welcome at Jack Poole Plaza, followed by a visit to Downtown Eastside charity Sheway, which helps mothers battling addictions.
The family will then visit the Immigration Services Society of BC’s new housing complex, and take a hovercraft trip at the newly reopened Kitsilano Coast Guard station.
Here’s hoping the royal tour is just as epic as all these other royal visits to Vancouver.
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