Postal History Corner

Friday, September 2, 2011

1973 Royal Visits

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip made two trips to Canada in 1973:

1. Royal Tour - June 25 to July 5
2. Ottawa Visit - July 31 to August 4

1. Royal Tour - June 25 to July 5

On their first visit from June 25 to July 5, the royal couple toured Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, to participate in events marking the tercentenary of Kingston, the centennial of P.E.I. into Canadian Confederation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police centennial and the opening of the R.C.M.P. museum in Regina.

The eleven day tour took the regal couple to the following cities and towns:

Toronto, Cobourg, Kingston, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Scarborough, Brampton, Malton, Ontario; Charlottetown, Summerside, Mount Carmel, P.E.I.; Regina, Sask.; Calgary, Alberta.

Toronto : Ontario Place

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Ontario Place, Toronto

300th Anniversary of Kingston

The Queen and Prince Philip visited Kingston on June 27, 1973.

Distinguished Visitor's Book
(Queen's Archives)

The Kingston post office was supplied a slogan cancellation to celebrate Kingston's 300th anniversary:

HISTORIC PASSAGE PROMISING FUTURE
1673 - 1973
PASSE HISTORIQUE FUTUR PROMETEUR

Kingston, November 14, 1973

Southern Ontario : Royal Train

Two Governor General's private rail cars were used by the Queen and the Duke for their travels through southern Ontario.

Royal Train Souvenir Covers

Niagara-on-the-Lake

On her visit to Niagara-on-the -Lake, the Queen officially opened the Shaw Festival Theatre and visited Fort George.

Queen Elizabeth II and Philip Duke of Edinburgh at
Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Formal Dinner,
Niagara-on-the-Lake

Kitchener: June 28, 1973

The Concordia Club Choirs sang for the Royal couple at Kitchener’s railway station. After arrival Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip disembarked and proceeded by car to downtown Kitchener to rededicate the Kitchener Cenotaph.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Rededication of Kitchener Cenotaph

Brantford: June 29, 1973

Although the Royal Train did not stop in Brantford, 3,000 people lined the platform at the station trying to get a glimpse of the Queen.

Regina

Queen Elizabeth II approved a new badge for the RCMP.

Queen Elizabeth II accepts a peace pipe from Chief David Ahenakew
during a visit to the RCMP Training Depot at Regina, July 4, 1973.

RCMP Commissioner Higgitt and Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II,during RCMP Centennial
Celebrations, Regina, Saskatchewan, 1973

Calgary: July 5 - 6

Queen Elizabeth opened the 1973 Calgary stampede and attended grandstand performances, departing from the Calgary airport on July 6.

2. Ottawa Visit : July 31 - August 4, 1973

Queen Elizabeth returned to Canada on July 31, 1973 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Ottawa. Prince Philip had his own program over four days.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGMs) take place at two-year intervals. They give Heads of Government the opportunity to engage indiscussions on matters of common interest to all Commonwealth members. The 1973 CHOGM was held in Ottawa between August 2 and 10 August 10 1973, and hosted by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The 32 members of the Commonwealth were represented at the biennial summit by 18 prime ministers, five presidents or heads of state, three vice-presidents and six senior ministers. Queen Elizabeth, Head of the Commonwealth, was received heads of government in audience at Rideau Hall.

On August 2, the Canada Post Office issued two commemorative stamps in recognition of the visit in the National Capital from July 31 to August 3 of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Ottawa August 2 - 10, 1973.

The portrait of Her Majesty the Queen was taken from a photograph by the English photographer Anthony Buckley.

First Day Covers

Kingswood (Fleetwood)