The Unofficial British Royal Family Pages

Friday 24 June 2005

Nine Days in May - The Queen's Last Great Overseas Tour?

Way back when I first started writing this column I asked my readers to tell me what it is about monarchies, theirs or others, that interests them enough to check out this website regularly. I got several insightful replies (and yours would still be welcome by the way). One reader asked me how Canadians felt about their monarchy. I thought the best time to answer that would be following the Queen and Prince Philip�s latest trip here, which just took place from May 17-25. It was her 22^nd visit in 54 years, the first while still a Princess in 1951.  

Just before Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip began their latest official visit to Canada Palace gossip had it that this nine-day run could be the last of their big overseas trips. After all she had just turned 79 and he was less than a month away from his 84^th birthday. Anyone would think that they would be worn out and ready to hand the reins of the grand tours over to their heirs. Well, if the success of this trip is any indication, neither of them is ready to slow down or quit any time soon, at least not with Canada.  

For those who may not know, Canada is a vast country that is currently made up of ten provinces of varying sizes and three huge northern territories. Canada became a Dominion in 1867, during the reign of Queen Victoria, when its four founding provinces joined together in Confederation. In 1905 the two new provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta both joined. To celebrate their centennials this year both their governments had invited the Queen to help kick off the festivities with them. Two to three years of planning, rehearsals, speechwriting, practices, building, expanding, requesting, revising, organizing and praying had gone into these events. The Queen knew exactly the amount of effort that thousands of people had put into these occasions and she was not about to let them down. From the minute she set foot on Canadian soil she was a hit. And she hit the ground running. 

The Queen did her job magnificently. Even the thoroughly bored journalists who traveled with her from London could find not even the teeniest bit controversial to exploit, and ended up trying valiantly to manufacture something, anything, that might sell back home. But the Royal Couple was not cooperating. Even Prince Philip was on his best behaviour and spent a lot of time laughing. The normally jaded reporters had to admit that when she is in Canada the Queen is completely relaxed and happy, and never once exhibited what they wryly call her �lobotomy look�. Besides the major events there were a lot of little things that were not planned, but which gave the most reasons for everyone to smile. Those are the little personal moments and gestures that make the most lasting memories for all ages. 

May 17- Before leaving London that morning the Queen opened the British Parliament. After an eight-and-a-half hour flight from London to Regina (granted that name by Princess Louise in honour of her mother Queen Victoria), she looked as fresh as if she had just started her working day. A strong prairie wind was blowing while she was greeted by Governor General, Prime Minister and other dignitaries. Was she off to the hotel to relax? Nope. First stop-First Nations University of Canada, which Prince Edward had officially opened in 2003. After the official greetings and prayers had been sung she unveiled a special stone, brought from her Balmoral estate in Scotland, engraved with the initials �Q.V.� and �Q. E.�. 

Outside the first of many walkabouts began. The crowd which had been sparse when she arrived was now three deep on both sides of the walk. As she would every time, she collected floral tributes, everything from a single rose to gigantic displays- all with a big smile, a word of thanks and a short pause for photographs. Prince Philip was given a pair of moccasins and commented that they looked pretty comfortable. Then they headed off to the Hotel Saskatchewan for a night in the Royal Suite where they would have audiences with politicians and media before finally putting their feet up.  

May 18-Pouring rain. The organizers are having panic attacks. On the prairies this is a good thing. For the Queen arriving in an open landau at the Saskatchewan Legislature it�s no problem. She steps down, raises a large, clear plastic umbrella over herself and proceeds to inspect the honour guard. The navy band plays. Her troops stand rigidly and proudly at attention. They have been out there getting soaked for an hour. Nobody seems to mind at all. The Queen is here. The last time was 18 years ago. In her speech she mentioned that her mother had always felt that Canada was her home away from home for the Queen of Canada, and as for her, it was good to be back. She and Prince Philip ignored the Prime Minister referring to them both as �Your Highness� Well, he was pretty nervous. (It might have been his last day on the job, for the day after a vote in the House of Commons came very close to tumbling his minority government). 

Now came something she was really looking forward to. She unveiled a life-size bronze statute of herself mounted on her favourite horse Burmese. She had ridden him in the Trooping the Colours ceremony until he retired in 1987. After that she never rode horseback in the parade again. She took her time walking all around and inspecting it from every angle while the thoroughly delighted sculptor followed behind answering her many questions. On her poncho again was the silver pin that had been presented to her mother in 1939. Her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, had made a pre-WWII trip across Canada that had been successful in creating a patriotic euphoria that would guarantee loyalty when war was declared. The pin had not been seen since. The Queen wore it everywhere she went in public for the rest of the trip.  

May 19-As Honourary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police she arrived at the Training Depot in Regina, wearing dark blue. Before they took part in the official wreath-laying ceremony the Queen had requested to meet privately with the families of four young Mounties who had been ambushed and murdered two months previously. Two had been Saskatchewan natives, and now all their names were newly engraved on the cenotaph outside the little chapel. No rain during the inspection of the just-graduated newest recruits and the honour guard. She had also asked for an opportunity to talk to them and did so as she walked along. 

Some media types commented that they had been watching these ventures for 35 years and always see the same dumbstruck, mesmerized looks on people�s faces. Once you meet the Queen, they declared somewhat proudly, you never forget. It is a very big deal. 

Later that morning while Prince Philip oversaw the opening of an urban nature preserve on behalf of Ducks Unlimited the Queen made her way to the Centre for the Arts, where 500 of the Who's Who of Saskatchewan were gathered for a gala Luncheon. She made her grand entrance wearing bright green. A choir of RCMP cadets sang �The Queen� In her speech she mentioned her first visit in 1951. To her it is in little subtle ways we are always reminded of the importance of the continuity of our monarchy, especially when she recalls her history with us throughout her reign and before. 

May 20- Off to Saskatoon in the evening for the Governor�s Centennial Concert, featuring 1000 performers, It took three years to put together. After days of rehearsal the participants declared it was an honour to perform it for her. The two-hour show was televised on the national network so the whole country could watch. She was dressed in a shimmering peachy-orange knee-length dress. They sat up on a lighted platform next to the Premier and his wife where they could be easily seen. Was anyone looking at the stage? For everyone who paid up to $136.00 for a ticket it was declared well worth it. 

May 21-22- Entering the Victoria Day Weekend it was time for a couple of days of R & R in a �secret� location- the secluded, very exclusive and not exactly rustic Outlook Cabin at Jasper Park Lodge deep in the Rocky Mountains. Her parents had stayed in the original Cabin in 1939, but it had burned down in 2000. This was a $2million reconstruction. It was the worst kept secret possible in a town of maybe 1500. On the 22^nd, Sunday, they attended a little Anglican Church in Jasper. It only seats 125 people so tickets were given out in a lottery to other local churches. They arrived to a crowd of about 1000. Leanne�s mother had presented flowers to the Queen Mum 66 years ago, and she had the pictures she wanted to show the Queen when she walked about after the service. She got her chance. It was, �Thrilling�. 

May 23-Victoria Day. Arrived in the capital of Edmonton. It is pouring again but 28.000 of the original sold-out 51,000 seat Centennial Stadium are filled, and on the field they stood waiting for the Queen and Prince Philip to arrive for an outdoor concert of Alberta�s finest performers. They are wearing any kind of raingear you can think of. Umbrellas of all sizes and colours flip from hand to hand. They have been there for hours but have no intention of leaving. It has taken 36 months of planning for the 44 hours the royal couple would spend in Edmonton. Men with brooms tried valiantly to sweep excess rainwater off the stage but it was a losing battle. She was late but eventually a mounted honour escort of Lord Strathcona�s Horse cantered into the stadium with the Queen and Prince Philip�s car. She descended, again with her rain poncho and plastic umbrella. Did she let a little thing like tramping across wet grass to the podium where the band played, then waited while a 21-gun salute by the 20^th Field Artillery was fired, get her down? Did it keep her from inspecting a sodden Honour Guard that had been standing in formation for an hour? Did the veterans, First Nations, and Alberta�s top politicians care they were getting soaked? No 

She cut a huge cake made in the shape of the Alberta Parliament Buildings and then they sat under a large canopy in midfield to watch a stage show. It was to have been two hours long but because of the rain it was judged as too dangerous and was cut in half. One young native dancer slipped and fell at the close of his routine. Alberta�s favourite singer came on, which for some contractual reason could not be televised. But he had the grace to invite all the other singers, who would not have a chance to perform, to come on stage and sing along with him. As the couple left a wave to the crowd sent it into wild cheering again. She strolled slowly back to the car because she knew that getting a good look at her would make it all worthwhile for everyone there. And the bouquets kept coming. 

May 24-Edmonton�s newly renamed Royal Alberta Museum. Bright sunshine. Huge crowds inside and outside. She wore pink. Every smart matching coat and hat outfit she wore was planned to go with the same black gloves, purse and shoes. Cuts down on the luggage. 

After a prolonged tour of the new galleries she was off to the Alberta Legislature where she would make history. She would be the first reigning monarch to sit on the throne and give a speech. At her entrance at first there was silence. Her speech was short. The standing ovation as she exited was a prelude to the ten-deep crowd outside. The pin was back on too. Outside on the long walkway was all flags, cheers, smiles, laughter, clicking shutters, bobbing on tiptoe to see how close she was getting, Kids skipped school. Adults skipped work. One centenarian who had met her while they were both in the Yukon 36 years before met her again. 

A young girl brought her jersey cow that she had raised. The Welsh Corgi Society flew 7 dogs in from the West Coast because they thought the Queen would like to see them. Well, the cow was out of luck but the corgis got a private audience and their owners a silly grin, which is probably still plastered across their faces. Its in their eyes, in the giggles, the jokes, the bobbing and jumping, the air of breathless anticipation, the emptying of all the flower shops in the vicinity, the need to get close to her, maybe talk to her. At times she walked among them inches away or right there. Security was discreet. Everyone knew she was in no danger here. It was starting to rain again, but still she accepted flowers and smiled and smiled. 

May 25-Final stop Calgary. Alberta wants to say good-bye in style and 15,000 people are packed into the covered Saddledome stadium to watch the show. A hush as the Queen and the Duke enter, then pandemonium. You�d think Bono had arrived. The hour-long show featured 1000 local performers and dancers representing Poland, China, Russia, Scotland, France, Ireland, India and Thailand. Cowboys and cowgirls of every age sang and danced. Native hoop dancers spun. Veterans and units of her regiments marched on and she went down to inspect them. She never missed a thing. Her eyes had moved constantly, her smiles flashed non-stop. As the pipe-band played not a few tears spilled down the cheeks of elderly soldiers remembering old comrades lost. Then as the pipers and choir launched into a wistful rendition of �Will Ye No Come Back Again?�, a favourite song she shared with her mother, they departed the stadium and headed for the airport as hundreds more outside waved her off. 

So, what�s the verdict? The celebrations would have gone off without her, but truthfully the public�s interest in the centennials at been lukewarm up to then, and it was hoped the Queen�s presence would heat things up. Everything had been planned to the nth degree and nothing went wrong except the weather. There was international exposure for both provinces. The national and foreign media and commentators were highly supportive of her visit and of the Canadian people. You can�t buy public relations like that. But it was the relations the Queen had with the public that really mattered, the litmus test of how Canadians feel about their monarch. For example, here are some of the comments and actions that everyday people made before and after they had seen the Queen: 

From kids: Really cool. Part of history. Really important. It�s the Queen! Pretty neat to see the Queen up close.

From adults: Just like a regular person. So thankful and gracious it was worth it. Lovely.

Thrilling. It�s an honour to perform for her. Calm, cool, collected, really enjoyed what she was doing. Peaceful. Really enjoyed coming. The veterans are very patriotic and she appreciated that. Once they (young people) get to know the Queen they�ll love her. She�s delightful. A role model who took on a heavy responsibility-made a commitment when very young and stuck with it. We need to honour those who lead us. Grace and presence of mind.

From the press: UK-Once you meet her you never forget. Still see that same dumbstruck look on faces for 35 years. Even if not sure of point of monarchy any more still mesmerized. Canada-She has a role and its not until you are up close and personal that you realize it. This woman has had a lot of influence over 50 years. She optimizes that.

Ordinary people: had driven 18 hours or more from Nebraska and other US states because-they just had to see her.

They brought their animals to the front of the line in the hope she would notice them.

Every nursery and flower shop in four cities was cleaned out.

Thousands waited happily for hours in all weather just because they wanted to see her and be part of it all.

The Monarchy remains on solid ground in Canada. Even the tiny but vocal republican faction was strangely quiet after she arrived. The younger  sections of the population, which previously had little knowledge or considered the relevance, now saw that with her portrait on our stamps and currency, and her effect on regular people like them, our head of state is simply part of the fabric of their lives. They hadn�t thought about it that way before.  

Is it the Queen�s last big trip to our shores? Or will the parting strains of Robbie Burns� haunting refrain convince her to come back again soon? Probably, because as one soggy Edmontonian wag explained, �The Queen of Canada is one heck of a splendid sport!�

Amen, and Anon.

- The Court Jester