queen elizabeth canada tour 1959

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1959 Royal Tour of Canada

Remembering the Queen's 1959 tour along the St. Lawrence Seaway

As Jim Brownell looks through pictures at the Lost Villages Museum in Long Sault, he fondly remembers Queen Elizabeth II’s second visit to Canada in 1959, to officially open the St. Lawrence Seaway.

"June 27, 1959. I was 11 years old," he says with a smile. "I remember leaving our farmhouse and my mother was pushing a baby carriage because I think she had had her eighth child by then, and we walked out to the new Highway number 2. It had been in service for a year because the flood happened in '58 and this is '59."

The Queen and Prince Philip were on a 45-day nationwide tour, visiting every province and territory, which included many stops along the seaway to open the newly finished project after four years of construction.

Brownell is now the Ppresident of the Lost Villages Historical Society, helping to preserve the history of that project. 

"We were standing there with our Union Jacks and waving and she came by and gave the royal wave," Brownell said. "It was exciting, and she had the top down, the top was down on the limousine that she was in."

"I remember her in that dress,” he said. “That's the dress she wore all day."

She made stops in Long Sault, Ingleside, Morrisburg and Iroquois, arriving in Brockville that evening.

"It was a grand day and my folks were monarchists, they certainly loved the Royal  family and whatnot and I think that's how I got my great love for the Royal family," he recollects.

The golden book she signed in Inglesid is now part of the museum.

"Those four years of having absolute turmoil in lives of people, this was kind of a time to celebrate," Brownell said. "The Monarchy was quite strong at that time so people came out to celebrate, they certainly did."

Fast forward 59 years later to 2018, and Brownell had a chance to see the Queen again, this time in England at Buckingham Palace.

She had been named Colonel in Chief of the SDG Highlanders Regiment, with Brownell being the Honorary Colonel. Two others from the Regiment also attended. 

"We had a private audience of 18 minutes with her," he remembers. "Sitting, talking to her was like sitting and talking to the wisest grandmother you'd ever want to meet. It was an amazing experience that few get and I count myself very lucky."

"She's just a woman with stellar character. Gracious, intelligent," he said. "Just to think of how she knew so much about me with not a card in her hand and to greet me at the door."

"To extend her hand, I couldn't extend my hand until she did , but she to extend her hand and say ‘Welcome Colonel Brownell, it was magical," he said. 

"I had admired her from the first time that I knew what a Queen or a King was. During my lifetime I was born under a King, but most of my active life she's been the Queen and I've admired her all those years."

As Brownell discusses other photos of the Queen in the museum, news breaks of her passing. It was a tough moment for Brownell.

"You know, it's a sad day," he said, his voice breaking. "It's a sad day for those people who have a fondness for the Monarchy and for Queen Elizabeth. It's going to be a different time now."

"Through the good times and the bad times, she held it all together, and we're going to miss her," he added. 

Her memory, however, will now live on at the Lost Villages Museum, for many years to come.

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Queen Elizabeth's Royal Visits to Canada

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Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state , always draws crowds when she visits Canada. Since her accession to the Throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth has made 22 official Royal visits to Canada, usually accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh , and sometimes by her children Prince Charles , Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Queen Elizabeth has visited every province and territory in Canada.

2010 Royal Visit

Date: June 28 to July 6, 2010 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 2010 Royal Visit included celebrations in Halifax, Nova Scotia to mark the centennial of the founding of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and a dedication of the cornerstone for the Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

2005 Royal Visit

Date: May 17 to 25, 2005 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended events in Saskatchewan and Alberta to celebrate the centennial of the entry of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation.

2002 Royal Visit

Date: October 4 to 15, 2002 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 2002 Royal Visit to Canada was in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Royal couple visited Iqaluit, Nunavut; Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Toronto, Oakville, Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario; Fredericton, Sussex, and Moncton, New Brunswick.

1997 Royal Visit

Date: June 23 to July 2, 1997 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 1997 Royal Visit marked the 500th anniversary of John Cabot's arrival in what is now Canada. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited St. John's and Bonavista, Newfoundland; NorthWest River, Shetshatshiu, Happy Valley and Goose Bay, Labrador, They also visited London, Ontario and viewed the floods in Manitoba.

1994 Royal Visit

Date: August 13 to 22, 1994 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured Halifax, Sydney, the Fortress of Louisbourg, and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; attended the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia; and visited Yellowknife , Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit (then part of the Northwest Territories).

1992 Royal Visit

Date: June 30 to July 2, 1992 Queen Elizabeth visited Ottawa, Canada's capital, marking the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and the 40th anniversary of her accession to the Throne.

1990 Royal Visit

Date: June 27 to July 1, 1990 Queen Elizabeth visited Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta, and then joined the celebrations for Canada Day in Ottawa, Canada's capital.

1987 Royal Visit

Date: October 9 to 24, 1987 Accompanied by Prince Philip On the 1987 Royal Visit, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured Vancouver, Victoria and Esquimalt, British Columbia; Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Canora, Veregin, Kamsack and Kindersley, Saskatchewan; and Sillery, Cap Tourmente, Rivière-du-Loup and La Pocatière, Quebec.

1984 Royal Visit

Date: September 24 to October 7, 1984 Accompanied by Prince Philip for all parts of the visit except Manitoba Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured New Brunswick and Ontario to participate in events marking the bicentennials of those two provinces. Queen Elizabeth also visited Manitoba.

1983 Royal Visit

Date: March 8 to 11, 1983 Accompanied by Prince Philip At the end of a tour of the U.S. West Coast, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo, Vernon, Kamloops and New Westminster, British Columbia.

1982 Royal Visit

Date: April 15 to 19, 1982 Accompanied by Prince Philip This Royal Visit was to Ottawa, Canada's capital, for the Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982.

1978 Royal Visit

Date: July 26 to August 6, 1978 Accompanied by Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward Toured Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta, attending the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta.

1977 Royal Visit

Date: October 14 to 19, 1977 Accompanied by Prince Philip This Royal Visit was to Ottawa, Canada's capital, in celebration of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year.

1976 Royal Visit

Date: June 28 to July 6, 1976 Accompanied by Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward The Royal family visited Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and then Montreal, Quebec for the 1976 Olympics. Princess Anne was a member of the British equestrian team competing in the Olympics in Montreal.

1973 Royal Visit (2)

Date: July 31 to August 4, 1973 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth was in Ottawa, Canada's capital, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Prince Philip had his own program of events.

1973 Royal Visit (1)

Date: June 25 to July 5, 1973 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Canada in 1973 included an extended tour of Ontario, including events to mark the 300th anniversary of Kingston. The Royal couple spent time in Prince Edward Island marking the centennial of PEI's entry into Canadian Confederation, and they went on to Regina, Saskatchewan, and Calgary, Alberta to participate in events marking the RCMP centennial.

1971 Royal Visit

Date: May 3 to May 12, 1971 Accompanied by Princess Anne Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne marked the centennial of British Columbia's entry into Canadian Confederation by visiting Victoria, Vancouver, Tofino, Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, William Lake and Comox, B.C.

1970 Royal Visit

Date: July 5 to 15, 1970 Accompanied by Prince Charles and Princess Anne The 1970 Royal Visit to Canada included a tour of Manitoba to celebrate the centennial of Manitoba's entry into Canadian Confederation. The Royal Family also visited the Northwest Territories to mark its centennial.

1967 Royal Visit

Date: June 29 to July 5, 1967 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in Ottawa, Canada's capital, to celebrate Canada's centennial. They also went to Montreal, Quebec to attend Expo '67.

1964 Royal Visit

Date: October 5 to 13, 1964 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Visited Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario to attend the commemoration of the three major conferences that led up to Canadian Confederation in 1867.

1959 Royal Visit

Date: June 18 to August 1, 1959 Accompanied by Prince Philip This was Queen Elizabeth's first major tour of Canada. She officially opened the St. Lawrence Seaway and visited all Canadian provinces and territories over the span of six weeks.

1957 Royal Visit

Date: October 12 to 16, 1957 Accompanied by Prince Philip On her first official visit to Canada as Queen, Queen Elizabeth spent four days in Ottawa, Canada's capital, and officially opened the first session of the 23rd Parliament of Canada.

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Queen Elizabeth II 1959 Royal Visit

• Posted on April 30, 2019
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This video contains footage of the 1959 Royal Visit  to Newfoundland by Queen Elizabeth II. This remarkable colour film shows both the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and the 166th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery two years before both units amalgamated under the banner of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Do you recognize anyone? 

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Celebrates 224 Years Today April 25

Memorial service at the pleasantville cairn, regimental birthday weekend.

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Edward moyle stick #2145, ron blake, 166th artillery, sergeant james dunphy, francis “mayo” lind’s lectern.

Joined the RNR “B” Company Band in late 60’s. Retired after 23 1/2 years service. Member of Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 12, Grand Falls-Windsor Member 48 years

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The 1959 Royal Visit video was excellent. It brings back a lot of memories. I’m sure that “B” Company Band joined forces with theSt. John’s Band for that occasion. Nice to remenince. Paul Hennessey

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The Day The Queen Came to Chicago: Photos From Elizabeth II's 1959 Visit

Published september 8, 2022 • updated on september 8, 2022 at 3:07 pm.

On July 6, 1959, as part of a larger 45-day trip through the Canadian provinces and four of the five Great Lakes, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made a brief 14-hour visit to Chicago, the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the city.

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The Cars of the 1959 Royal Tour

by Clive Law

During the summer of 1959, the Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, undertook the longest Royal tour in Canadian history (Buckingham Palace officials and the Canadian government opted to dub this a “Royal tour”, as opposed to a “Royal visit”, to dispel any notion that the Queen was a visiting foreigner.) The catalyst for the tour was the ceremonial opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, but beyond that, the intent was to visit many outlying districts never before visited by royalty. All ten provinces, four of the Great Lakes, both Territories (as existed at the time) and a visit to the United States were covered in an exhausting fifteen thousand mile, forty-five day tour.

The 1959 Continental Mark IV

In order to accomplish this task the Government of Canadian, with the logistical support of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force, made plans for both road and air travel for the Royal guests. In the expectation of large crowds who would line the Queen’s route in every town and city it was decided that an appropriate limousine would be needed. The Government contacted each of the ‘big three’ car manufacturers and each offered to provide a limousine suitable for Royalty.

“For the Royal Tour of Canada in 1959, the Big Three auto manufacturers, General Motors. Ford and Chrysler, competed once more for the honour of transporting royalty, Her Majesty the Queen andPrince Philip. On lune 13, 1959 a Lincoln, a Chrysler, and a Cadillac — all to be used on the tour — were displayed before the Peace Tower at the Parliament Buildings. At first the government had considered using fourteen limousines and fourteen convertibles, stationing two in each of the cities to be visited. Then the decision was made to use only three and to fly them ahead of the royal couple. The Chrysler and Cadillac had removable glass tops over the rear passenger compartment and only the Lincoln was a convertible. “Her Majesty and Prince Philip will have every conceivable luxury… the flooring material looks like dyed mink. There is a button that enables the Queen to shift the seating arrangement in any one of six ways. The Ottawa wrote “Prince Philip gets to move his two ways, forwards and hack. The cars cost about $ 150,000 and look every dollar of it. The spare tires are covered in special cloth, which somebody recalled as mohair…. There is no armour plate or bulletproof glass, confided the Citizen reporter, “The royal couple have nothing to fear but too much affection from Canadians.” “Very handsome,” said Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who left a cabinet meeting to be photographed with the three cars. After the tour, the cars were auctioned off to the highest bidder.” [1]

The driver drawing special interest from this young lady.

These three cars were: A Continental Mark IV, a Cadillac Custom 1959 Fleetwood Limousine and a Chrysler-Ghia Crown Imperial (this was a 1957 model upgraded for 1959). The Cadillac and the Continental were customized with a Landau-style roof permitting the Queen and Prince Philip to not only be seen by her loyal subjects but also to allow them to stand. Individually powered rear seats are installed with controls for the horizontal and vertical movement located on the individual arm rests [in the right-hand armrest, the Queen’s side, was also located a knob for remote-control of the car’s radio]. The Cadillac seats were tailored in silver-grey McLaughlin Carriage cloth, with matching cushions, in a distinctive square biscuit and button design and the floor was carpeted with luxurious mouton which extended up the doors.

During the tour each of the three cars was air-lifted by an RCA C-119 Flying Boxcar requiring that each car be used on a rotation basis during the 6-week tour.

During the tour the three cars were ferried across the country by RCAF C-119 ‘Flying Boxcar’ aircraft.

The cars featured a maximum of comfort, convenience and luxury for the passengers with the greatest possible outside-inside visibility for the millions who lined the coast to coast parade routes. To provide an even greater measure of air-conditioned comfort, two additional outlets are installed in the rear compartment. The two new air-conditioned outlets are on the back of the front seat. In the Cadillac other special appointments included mouton-covered hassocks, a lap robe carrying a hand embroidered crest of the royal household [in hues of red and gold] and special lights to illuminate the Royal Couple during after-dark processions. Her Majesty certainly earned the right to some luxury as the 45-day visit included 17 military parades, 21 formal dinners, 64 guards of honour and 381 platform appearances.

Their Majesties taking advantage of their freedom to stand in the car.

A more complete description of the Cadillac states:

The upper portion of the car quarter panel has been removed from the rear door post on back. It has been replaced with a removable Plexiglas canopy that will permit onlookers the opportunity to view the royal procession even if the weather fails to co-operate. It is anticipated that in most parade points the car will operate with the top removed in the true landau concept. The roof is further modified with the addition of a 24-inch by 43-inch sliding panel. Electrically operated, the roof panel can be opened or closed from both the rear and front compartments.

Each of the three cars had a Royal shield and had an anchored staff on the leading edge of the roof, centered above the windshield, for the royal standard. The Royal standard was fitted with a chrome rings that fit snugly into the staff.

The Royal shield and the Royal standard’s chrome staff.

One of the Royal standards used during the tour. The chrome stand with integral rings can be seen. Courtesy Dean Owen

Acknowledgement – Dean Owen for the loan of photographs as well as an original standard with staff.

[1] Royal Transport: An Inside Look at The History of British Royal Travel. Peter Pigott, Dundurn Press.

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2025 dodge charger could get first editions, 300-hp trim, canada's budget 2024 extends the life of ev rebates, car review: 2024 honda accord hybrid sport, 2025 ford mustang gets limited 60th anniversary package, a royal cadillac: custom 75 series cadillac fleetwood limousine.

The 75 Series Cadillac Fleetwood limousine for the 1959 Royal Tour was flown around the country for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

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Vancouver, 1959 – As the thunder of its twin radial piston engines faded to a rumble, the RCAF C-119 “Flying Boxcar” taxied off the runway and came to a rest. Ground crew approaches, the rear section of the plane splits in two, and the cautious task of unloading begins. Below the C-119’s twin booms, still painted with the Red Ensign granted by King George V, a massive Cadillac emerges.

It is a car fit for, and built for, a Queen. Crafted from a standard 75 Series Cadillac Fleetwood limousine, it is over six metres long and two metres wide. The floor is carpeted in a specially-prepared sheepskin called mouton and the seats are covered with McLaughlin carriage cloth. A removable plexiglass landau top has been fitted, with an electric sliding roof panel to open further. There are twin additional air-conditioning outlets for the rear, and it is the first car in the world to have four-way power rear seats.

A Royal Cadillac: Custom 75 Series Cadillac Fleetwood limousine Back to video

This special Cadillac was the flagship in a fleet of three. Also commissioned by the Canadian government were a Continental Mk IV convertible and a Chrysler-Ghia Crown Imperial, thus representing the “Big Three” domestic manufacturers. They were first shown at the Canadian Parliament buildings on June 13, 1959; the total cost for all three was $150,000, which is over a million when adjusted for inflation. Along with rail, air, and water transport, these three machines would ferry Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip some 25,000 km, touching at every single Canadian province and territory.

This was not the first time the royals had graced Canada with a tour, but it was the most comprehensive visit. There was some light controversy when a CBC television host named Joyce Davidson suggested that many Canadians were indifferent to the British monarchy, and several ceremonially-dressed musicians and guards collapsed during the initial, late June welcoming ceremony because it was such a hot day.

Still, the tour was something of a success, with crowds thronging the street. Some were staunch monarchists, others perhaps appreciated Her Majesty joining in the singing of “Oh Canada,” and others were of course just there to see the spectacle. The Queen and her Prince stood in the back of the open Cadillac, waving to the assembled onlookers with the wrist motion no other human beings on the face of the planet employ.

It was the fourth time Queen Elizabeth II had visited Canada. As Princess Elizabeth, she and the then-Duke visited Canada for the first time in 1951. In 1957, now Queen, she opened Canada’s 23rd Parliament. In 1953, outbound on a tour of other Commonwealth nations, her plane briefly alighted at Gander for refuelling in the wee hours of the morning.

On that occasion, word got out, and a bunch of rowdy Newfoundlanders surrounded the aircraft at 3:20 am, and woke the Queen up by singing, “For she’s a jolly good fellow,” in the most Newfoundlandiest thing to ever happen in Newfoundland. The Queen made a short and gracious speech. One imagines the Duke recommending having them all flogged.

But perhaps that’s a bit unfair. The late Prince Philip is often portrayed as a haughty, unyielding sort of fellow, quick with an unfiltered quip, but he had his human side too. The schedule set for the Royal couple in 1959 was an exhausting parade of stuffy official dinners and being paraded around endlessly, but on they went. Mustn’t complain.

Canada has a curious and long-standing automotive connection with the British Royal family. When Prince Edward and his brother Prince George visited Canada in 1927, a pair of Canadian-built McLaughlin-Buicks were used for the tour. When the former became King Edward VIII in 1936, he ordered a Canadian McLaughlin-Buick as his personal limousine, rather than a Rolls-Royce or Bentley.

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In 1939, Queen Elizabeth’s parents toured Canada as war in Europe loomed on the horizon. Again, a Royal Buick limousine was commissioned, specifically a Buick 8 open-topped convertible, coachbuilt at General Motors Canada. The men who would go on to build war materiel like Mosquito fighter-bombers worked on this car, and it had a curious life.

After the 1939 Royal visit, the Buick was driven back to Victoria, BC, by a well-connected woman named Helen Palmer. She drove it around town, fitted a small piano in the rear for her children to play, and used her Royal Buick to pull stumps on her farm, in the most Vancouver Islandiest thing to ever happen on Vancouver Island.

McLaughlin-Buicks and the ’39 Royal Tour Buick may now be found at the Reynolds-Alberta transport museum in Wetaskiwin. The Royal Cadillac, on the other hand, would pass first into the hands of a new royal family.

After the extensive 1959 tour, the Cadillac passed somehow into the US Presidential fleet. It was used by President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline-Bouvier Kennedy for official functions and parades. Where once it carried the inhabitants of Buckingham Palace, now it ferried the people who lived in Camelot. Alas, a tragedy was in the offing.

There is a somewhat touching story that follows the assassination of JFK. That weekend Prince Philip flew to Washington for the funeral in an official capacity. Two days after her husband had been killed, Jackie Kennedy opened the door to find the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip Mountbatten, consort to Queen Elizabeth II, sprawled on the floor playing imaginary games with a small boy named John Kennedy Jr. who wanted to know where his father had gone. The Prince had almost no childhood to speak of, and he understood.

The Royal Cadillac disappeared some time after, but has reemerged in whispers in Cadillac collector circles. It is currently said to be in the hands of an unknown collector. The rumour is that the car will not make an appearance again until it is properly restored.

With the current rifts emerging in the present Royal household, Canadians are once again debating the merits of being attached to a monarchy. Whether the Royals are part of our country’s future will no doubt be argued about exhaustively. Maybe the monarchists and anti-monarchists could have a hockey match, winner decides.

Regardless of the future, the Royals, and their tours, and the vehicles used during on them, are part of our history. The Royal Cadillac is out there somewhere. One hopes it will once again see the light of day.

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Past Royal Tours

Members of the Royal Family have made several official and personal tours of Canada over the years, further strengthening the bond between the Crown and Canada.

2022 Royal Tour

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Canada from May 17 to 19, 2022 to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

Private and official tours since 1953

History buffs will enjoy going back in time for a look at past monarchs who toured Canada from 1786 to 1951 .

Throughout her 70-year reign, The Queen made 22 official tours of Canada, more than any other Commonwealth country. She made her first tour as Princess Elizabeth in 1951 with her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh. She travelled to all regions of the country and was a constant presence in the lives of Canadians, witnessing growth and significant change in Canadian society.

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Queen Elizabeth's birthday has CBC looking back to Stampede trip in 1959

The queen, who just turned 90, delighted royal-watchers in calgary with 4 visits over the years.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Calgary

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Check out a young Queen Elizabeth's excitement as she and Prince Philip watch the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede during the first of four royal visits to the city back in 1959.

The Queen turns 90 today. 

• The Queen at 90: Why Elizabeth has so many birthdays

To mark the occasion, CBC Calgary went back into our archival footage to pull some video highlights from that July 1959 trip.

Her every detail was relayed breathlessly to riveted royal-watchers: "Her Majesty is wearing a yellow and moss green printed silk shantung dress with three-quarter-length sleeves, a portrait neckline and a draped skirt."

About 35,000 people turned out to sing God Save the Queen.

At the end of their visit, then-mayor Donald Hugh Mackay presented the pair with bracelets for the Queen and Princess Anne, as well as belt buckles for Prince Philip and Prince Charles.

The Queen also visited Calgary in 1973, 1990 and 2005.

Do you have memories of seeing the Queen on one of her visits to Calgary? Share your memories and tell us what it meant to you in the comments section below.

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II dies, remembered in Windsor as 'a formidable public servant'

Michiganders and Canadians — who have long expressed fascination, apathy and even, at times, distaste for royalty — offered their sympathy and respect Thursday to the British people and the family of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at 96.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the queen had "lived through and shaped history" and the governor ordered, in accordance with President Joe Biden’s proclamation, American flags be lowered to honor the late monarch's memory. "My thoughts," Whitmer added, "are with the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom."   

The longest-reigning British monarch — surpassing her great-great-grandmother Victoria — Elizabeth left a legacy as a leader who had circled the globe, including three celebrated visits to Windsor, Ontario.

And each time the queen stopped in Windsor, she tilted the world's spotlight toward the British Commonwealth.

More: Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96; King Charles III takes the throne

More: A look at the British royal family tree, spanning four generations.

For those old enough to remember it, the queen's visit to Windsor in 1959 stands out as a moment with much pomp and circumstance. It drew thousands of people who wanted to get a glimpse of royalty. It was such an important visit, it even helped launch the Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival, which still continues.

In Canada, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he was "deeply saddened to learn about the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II," adding that "on behalf of all Windsor residents, we extend our condolences across the entire Commonwealth."

He heard the news, his staff said, while watching CNN.

Dilkens called the queen "a leader with quiet influence and immeasurable grace," and pointed out that for many, she "was a fixture throughout our entire lives." He said that her "lifetime of service will be honored and treasured, recognized and debated in the coming days and weeks."

Toronto resident Marlaine Koehler, who was in Windsor on Thursday, said she was "raised learning a bit about British history and the story of the royals," in part because her "mom has British roots." Also, she added, because "Britain's history is more exciting than Canadian."

The queen, Koehler said, spent a lifetime carrying out her duty, "with honor and grace and not an ounce of resentment." And when she visited Canada, as she did many countries in the British Commonwealth, "everyone would show up."

The queen embodied Britain.

To Anglican Protestants, the queen also was "Defender of the Faith" and "the Supreme Governor of the Church of England," the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

At St. John’s Episcopal, a historic place of worship in Detroit close to Comerica Park, church bells tolled for 30 minutes. The chimes also could be heard on video clips that the Rev. Steven Kelly, the church rector, posted on social media with the words: "Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth."

Kelly, who was in church when he heard the news, said he offered a prayer for the "repose of her soul."

British Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted that the queen was in the nation's thoughts. And hours later, Buckingham Palace released a statement that the queen died peacefully at Balmoral. She had four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Charles, Elizabeth's eldest son, became king at 73.

The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization , concluded the queen's death marks "the end of an era for Canada," noting that 1950s high school students across English Canada waved the Union Jack and sang "God Save the Queen," but in time "Canada became dramatically less anglophone and anglophile."

David Crombie, a former Canadian minister of multiculturalism, said the queen carried out her job with "great grace over all those years," adding that "even when there's fights in the family, fights in the country, fights in the world, she was Steady Eddie."

He added: "She's the queen of Canada, not just the queen of Great Britain," and "her sense of duty was extraordinary."

There were "good and bad" prime ministers, but Elizabeth remained the same, offering "a sense of stability."

And a show of stability in a changing world after becoming queen at 25 in 1952 is what prompted her global tours. While some celebrated the glory of the former British Empire, others, as Britain's power waned, became increasingly critical of it.

In 1959, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in Windsor by train and car and departed by ship, traveling down the Detroit River, close enough for thousands to see her blue-hulled, 412-foot Royal Yacht Britannia, touted as the largest in the world, and cheer.

In a black-and-white photo of her stop, a crowd of well-wishers, the Britannia and the Detroit skyline are visible.

The visit was significant enough for the Free Press to run a front-page headline: "This is the day we say hello to the Queen." It was stripped across the top, but it wasn't the biggest story of the day. There was a larger and bolder headline: "Dearborn boy kills his mother's suitor."

Still, the report on the visit said thousands of Americans were expected to join Canadian crowds along the route of the "young monarch" and then line the Detroit River to watch fireworks explode for the Freedom Festival, the first year it was being held.

The queen's visit, the article said, had been "planned by stopwatch."

The queen, then 33, had come to Canada and America as part of a longer tour. She ceremoniously opened the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of locks and canals connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, with then-President Dwight Eisenhower, and went on to other destinations.

Elizabeth had visited Windsor once before, in 1951 as a princess.

During that trip, reports at the time said, she wanted to see a Ford factory — and did. The Canadian factory, a Ford account of the visit added, was "spotless and tidy." And she met with what in America might be considered royalty, William Clay Ford and his wife.

But, her whirlwind visit to Windsor in 1959 was as a reigning monarch.

The next day, the Free Press headline was: "All hail a tired Queen! She waves as we cheer." She had arrived in a 1939 open Lincoln that had been borrowed from Greenfield Village, the article said. The plan was for her to yacht near Mackinac Island afterward.

Lawrence Rubin, former executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, said in a book that as the vessel moved underneath the bridge, motorists got out of their cars, ran to see it, waving and rubbernecking. But some, he added to his embarrassment, spat over the side.

At Mackinac, Michigan's then Gov. G. Mennen Williams said in the Free Press report, the National Guard would salute the queen. But the governor also took the opportunity to make a little joke, a reminder that British-American relations were not always so amicable.

"The last time Americans fired from the Island, the British took it over," Williams said with a chuckle.

The royal couple visited Windsor again in 1984.

On that trip, a crowd of 5,000 or more packed the Canadian riverfront park, waving British flags, while Detroit Police — and other agencies — kept a watchful eye on the proceedings from security boats. There's video of her planting a maple, Canada's arboreal emblem.

A broadcast clip called the visit "the biggest thing to happen in Windsor in years." A resident, who said she spoke to the queen, told the newscaster she was "still shaking" with excitement. And as an aside, the newsman noted that Windsor is usually in Detroit's shadow, but not that day.

Dilkens said Thursday that the there will be "several days of official mourning, commemoration and memorial events" in Windsor, and the city would announce the schedule. But, he added, "today, we honor the memory of a formidable public servant. God Save the Queen."

Free Press staff writers Emma Stein and Niraj Warikoo, and pop culture critic Julie Hinds contributed.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected].

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Ric Hall’s The Royal Tour 1959

Our friend Veteran Fred Stark is still going through his old photographs and sent along these two photographs of members on motorcycle escort for the Royal tour of 1959.

Fred was obviously impressed by the members in their Red Serge and those scrunched up “traffic” Forage caps, because he noted this in his message that he sent along with the photos; “ It was a time when the idea of becoming a Mountie started to form in my mind.”  

Of course the first thought that comes to mind is who are the members on the motorcycles and we could do another “Who Are These Members?” article.  Upon digging deeper into the vault of historic photos I came to realize that the Royal Tour of 1959 was one of the biggest the Force had to provide security for up till that time. The Queen and Prince Philip arrived in Canada to attend the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, have quick visit to Chicago and tour all provinces and territories of Canada in a six-week time frame. It was a well kept secret that the Queen was pregnant and this did not become known until the tour hit Yukon.

1959 – RCMP Motorcycle escort (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

In June, The Queen and Prince Philip embarked at the mouth of the St Lawrence River aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia for the official opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They were joined on board by President Eisenhower and Mrs Eisenhower as well as Canadian Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker and his wife.

For any member who has been involved in VIP duties you know the hours can be long and in 1959 there was no such thing as overtime. Much of the work was done in Review Order and having to move from one location to another, pack and unpack, and slap some polish on the old Sam Browne and Strathcona boots for the next event!

Edited from: “A Yukon Nugget by Les McLaughlin”

In June, Queen Elizabeth began a cross-country tour of Canada with the Yukon on the list of stops. While in Whitehorse, a Royal tummy ache turned out to be the biggest news of the tour. The forty-five day visit began in Newfoundland on June 18th. A month later, on Saturday, July 18, the Queen and Prince Phillip arrived at the Whitehorse airport on a flight from Vancouver.

Elizabeth, said the newspapers, looked pale and drawn – perhaps worn out from the rigours of the arduous tour. A few days later, the world would hear the real story. From the airport, the Royal couple were driven downtown in a brand new 1959 Ford Fairlane convertible that was owned by a Cassiar miner named Vincenzo Caparell. It took some quick police work by the Mounties to find the convertible after a last-minute royal request for such a vehicle.

Half an hour after her arrival, the Mounties, who always get their car, had found the Fairlane, the Army polished it up and it was ready at the airbase for the drive that included a ride over streets coated with a new topping of old oil, the material of choice to keep the dust down in the days before pavement.

Then it was off with Mayor Gordon Cameron on a walkabout to the nearby train station where White Pass railway engineer Charlie Rapuzzi unfurled the Royal standard and eased the diesel locomotive out of town for a quick trip to McCrae . The journey included a view of the Yukon River and the newly built hydro dam that had destroyed the historic Whitehorse Rapids.

But the most important news of the Canadian tour leaked out next morning. A Sunday service was scheduled at the Old Log Church . At the appointed hour, the Queen was a no show. Prince Philip arrived alone in the Royal convertible and read the lesson while Anglican bishop Tom Greenwood and a full house looked on. But why was the Queen not there?

Her personal physician announced to a galvanized press that she was exhausted from the grueling tour and had an upset stomach. Some news hounds were not buying the story and it was finally revealed that the Queen was suffering from morning sickness. She was pregnant with another Royal. They would name him Edward.

For the Queen, Sunday remained a day of rest while the Duke headed for Dawson in a four-engine de Haviland Heron military aircraft. Philip piloted the plane to Dawson and back, taxing right up to the VIP house at the Whitehorse airport while the recovering Queen watched from a window.

It was the Queen Elizabeth’s only visit to the Yukon, though the Duke had been here five years earlier on a solo trip in 1954.

Cover of the RCMP Quarterly Magazine – Doors Are Always Opened (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

A far cry from security of today, members only defense in case of attack is their physical size and their trusty riding crop.

Below the personal security detail and motor escort riders of the 1959 Royal  Tour – where are they now?

Taken from MilArt – Articles on Canadian Militaria – The Cars of the 1959 Royal Tour by Clive Law

“During the summer of 1959, the Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, undertook the longest Royal tour in Canadian history (Buckingham Palace officials and the Canadian government opted to dub this a “Royal tour”, as opposed to a “Royal visit”, to dispel any notion that the Queen was a visiting foreigner.) The catalyst for the tour was the ceremonial opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, but beyond that, the intent was to visit many outlying districts never before visited by royalty. All ten provinces, four of the Great Lakes, both Territories (as existed at the time) and a visit to the United States were covered in an exhausting fifteen thousand mile, forty-five day tour.

In order to accomplish this task the Government of Canadian, with the logistical support of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force, made plans for both road and air travel for the Royal guests. In the expectation of large crowds who would line the Queen’s route in every town and city it was decided that an appropriate limousine would be needed. The Government contacted each of the ‘big three’ car manufacturers and each offered to provide a limousine suitable for Royalty.

“For the Royal Tour of Canada in 1959, the Big Three auto manufacturers, General Motors. Ford and Chrysler, competed once more for the honour of transporting royalty, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip. On June 13, 1959 a Lincoln, a Chrysler, and a Cadillac — all to be used on the tour — were displayed before the Peace Tower at the Parliament Buildings. At first the government had considered using fourteen limousines and fourteen convertibles, stationing two in each of the cities to be visited. Then the decision was made to use only three and to fly them ahead of the royal couple. The Chrysler and Cadillac had removable glass tops over the rear passenger compartment and only the Lincoln was a convertible. “Her Majesty and Prince Philip will have every conceivable luxury… the flooring material looks like dyed mink. The cars cost about $ 150,000 and look every dollar of it. The spare tires are covered in special cloth, which somebody recalled as mohair…. There is no armour plate or bulletproof glass, confided an official, “The royal couple have nothing to fear but too much affection from Canadians.” “Very handsome,” said Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who left a cabinet meeting to be photographed with the three cars. After the tour, the cars were auctioned off to the highest bidder.

These three cars were: A Continental Mark IV, a Cadillac Custom 1959 Fleetwood Limousine and a Chrysler-Ghia Crown Imperial (this was a 1957 model upgraded for 1959). The Cadillac and the Continental were customized with a Landau-style roof permitting the Queen and Prince Philip to not only be seen by her loyal subjects but also to allow them to stand.

The Lincoln Continental Mark IV

Photograph of the Chrysler-Ghia Crown Imperial.

Cadillac Custom 1959 Fleetwood Limousine

During the tour each of the three cars was air-lifted by an RCA C-119 Flying Boxcar requiring that each car be used on a rotation basis during the 6-week tour.”

If you have any old Force related photographs that you would like to be included in a forthcoming webpage, please email Ric Hall at [email protected].  He will scan the photos and return the originals to you.

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Here are all the times Queen Elizabeth II visited southwestern Ontario

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died Thursday at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.

The Queen visited Canada numerous times over her seven-decade reign, often accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

During her trips to southwestern Ontario, she stopped by everything from historical sites to centres for the arts.

Here’s a timeline:

The Queen’s first visit to southwestern Ontario took place in 1951. At the time, she was a princess standing in for her father who was ill.

During a coast-to-coast tour of Canada, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited a Ford plant in Windsor. Newspaper coverage of the visit details how the couple’s children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were gifted remote control cars emblazoned with the crest of the City of Windsor.

She also made a stop at Niagara Falls.

The Queen’s first official visit to southwestern Ontario took place in 1959 when visited a number of cities in the area during a 45-day tour of Canada. Stops included Waterloo, Guelph, Stratford, London, Windsor and Sarnia.

The Queen visited Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, London, St. Catherines and Niagara-on-the-Lake during in the summer of 1973 as part of an extended tour of Ontario.

While in Cambridge, she presented Mayor Claudette Millar with a pin at Riverside Park.

An estimated 4,000 cheering people greeted the Queen when she visited Brantford in September 1984.

Standing next to Six Nations Chief Wellington Staats, the queen unveiled a plaque at Mohawk Chapel, recognizing it as a national historic site.

The monarch also visited Windsor during her 1984 visit.

In 1997, the Queen arrived in Stratford via helicopter where she watched actors perform a scene from ‘The Taming of the Shrew.’

The Queen then headed to Bell Homestead in Brantford, where she greeted crowds and visited the study where it’s believed Alexander Graham Bell dreamed up the idea of the telephone.

In July 2010, the Queen toured what was then known as Research in Motion – now BlackBerry – in Waterloo.

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky worked for the company at the time.

“The plan was to have the Queen come through the manufacturing lab of Research in Motion and my job was to make sure they got the right smocks. There was one labelled Her Majesty, one labelled His Majesty,” Jaworksy said. “She came in and her team put on the gown and that was my few moments with the Queen.”

She helped test a new BlackBerry and left with her own device.

“She was very interested in what she was going to do and would always do the slight nod,” Jaworksy said.

While her visit to Waterloo that day was brief – less than an hour and a half – Jaworksy remembers how she took the time to speak to those who were there.

“She was just a wonderful person. Well-dressed and well-spoken and [had] time for everyone,” he said.

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Wide turns leaving Ayr residents short on patience with transport truck traffic

Customers react to pizza as a new menu item at Tim Hortons

Stolen bikes and sports equipment found in storage lockers

Woman facing 42 charges after trying to fraudulently obtain credit at Conestoga Mall: WRPS

Brantford to honour ‘The Simpsons’ actor

Thousands in cosmetics stolen from Guelph business

'They needed people inside Air Canada': Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist

Ctvnews.ca top stories.

Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns

The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.

BREAKING | American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple

American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.

BREAKING | Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80

Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.

Trend Line | Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey

Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.

Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K

Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails

A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.

What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?

The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.

Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler

Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.

B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing

The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.

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Major spike in the price of gas overnight

Fentanyl and 'cutting agent' seized in sarnia drug bust, london police officer charged with impaired.

Parents and personal support worker charged in death of Windsor woman

One person taken to hospital, dog and birds rescued from house fire, three people displaced after fire in fontainebleau area.

Quick-thinking vehicle seller foils buyer's scam attempt

Discreditable conduct police services act hearing for barrie police veteran, death investigation launched after body washes onto lake couchiching shore, northern ontario.

Box of dead puppies found at northern Ont. landfill site

Body of missing man found, northern ontario police say, sault ste. marie.

Northern Ont. woman wins big with gifted lottery scratch ticket

Small northern ont. town loses access to mobile cancer screening, sault cracking down on people who misuse accessible parking spots.

BREAKING | 1 dead following wrong-way crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa's east end

Centretown student transport driver facing sexual assault charges, ottawa police say, prime minister meets with mayor sutcliffe at ottawa city hall.

Gas prices in Ontario jumped 14 cents overnight. Here's when they will drop

Bets on world boxing events temporarily banned in ontario over 'suspicious' wager activity.

Gas prices jump up past $1.90 across Quebec

Legault still doesn't know the price of a 4 1/2 in montreal.

Seven people arrested at N.B. dispensaries

Nova scotia premier says agreement reached with teachers union, strike averted, teen charged in death of tyson macdonald has case adjourned.

'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date

New report highlights success of mobile overdose prevention site during first year of operation, 'totally wrong': winnipeg man says landlord denied life-changing medical equipment.

Police investigate southeast Calgary fight that sent 2 to hospital

Calgary baker celebrates sweet $1m lottery win.

LIVE at 11:30 | Electricity rate spikes target of Alberta's efforts for affordable power

Weather | josh classen's forecast: cool spell lasts until the weekend.

DEVELOPING | Sask. Teachers' Federation president to speak on province's 'final offer'

Sask. first nations' delegates meet with province to discuss commitments to inherent treaty rights, no injuries reported in north central regina house fire, 'it has saved lives': saskatoon's only drop-in overnight shelter set to close, sask. woman accused of driving while high in fatal crash takes the stand.

Proposal for pay parking at Spanish Banks prompts community backlash

B.c. woman tries to coax trapped orca calf out of tidal lagoon with her violin, mounties arrest knife-wielding man on popular trail near victoria, vancouver island.

B.C. premier to make announcement on short-term rental rules

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