Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family in Canada: Golden Jubilee Edition

by Ron Poling

Photographs and stories from the files of the Canadian Press, the best momnets from 50 years of covering the Queen and her family in Canada, including candidn photos of Princess Diana and Prime Minister Trudeau.

Since her first tour of Canada following her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II has been a favorite of Canadians. In this book the editors compile the official and candid photogrpahs and intreviews with Her Royal Highness for the past 50 years.

Royal admirers need to include this book in their collections of memorabilia.

Includes a series of photos of the dearly beloved Princess Diana before her divorce and tragic death, and a series of Prime MInister Trudeau and the Queen signing the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Paul Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of Canada and the British Royal Family is actually a unique relationship. On more than a few occasions, members of the Royals have indicated a particular fondness for Canada. At one point, a Royal visit to Canada was a high point of the calendar year. Canadians' feelings about the monarchy have ebbed and flowed over the decades. Published in 2002, this book, Queen Elizabeth II and The Royal Family In Canada, by Patti Tasko and Ron Poling of the Canadian Press recounts 50 years of Royal visits to this country. During the course of her life, Elizabeth, as a princess and Queen, visited Canada more than 20 times. Her mother, Elizabeth (the Queen Mum) stopped touring the Commonwealth countries in the 1970s but continued to visit Canada until 1989. Clearly, members of the Royal Family feel a type of kinship to Canada and Canadians. The book is part coffee table book and collection of articles on the visits from Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, their children, Charles and Diana (at the time still married), Edward and Sophie and the now -disgraced Andrew and his wife (at the time) Sarah Ferguson. More than a few visits include Princess Anne, the Queen's daughter. While it is certainly interesting reading the news articles covering the Royal visits, the photos are equally interesting and revealing. There are photos of the 1939 visit by her father, King George VI and his wife, Elizabeth to Canada. One will find a photo of a young Princess Elizabeth learning to square dance in Ottawa in 1951. An amusing photo has Elizabeth, as Queen, in 1957 in Ottawa walking with Canada's first Canadian - born Governor General, Vincent Massey while his dog, Duff, carries Her Majesty's handbag. Something you need to see. In reading this book, one can see how tight the relationship was between Canada and the monarchy in the 1930s all the way up to the 1960s. By the 1970s, the mutual affection was wearing thin until Diana came along. When she passed away, her sons and their wives received the public's attention. Canadians are masters of their own home and the once-strong devotion to the British monarchy is certainly not what it once was. However, one can appreciate the history. In some ways, one can see the rise of Canada while the Royal Family's significance has waned. If you're a monarchist, an interesting book. If you're interested in Canadian history, this book is an amusing and enjoyable look back.