This past week Her Majesty the Queen of Canada and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh completed another – the 22nd of her reign - highly successful Royal Tour of Canada.
Cilla and I were honoured to be included in the penultimate event of her five city tour, the State Dinner at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel.
Despite a late afternoon power outage which plunged the hotel – and much of the city - into darkness until emergency generators kicked in, the Royal Couple were undaunted. Prince Phillip completed his presentation of Duke of Edinburgh awards under emergency lighting and, though the hotel warmed rapidly in the absence of air conditioning, the Queen was unfazed as she prepared to receive guests.
Just in time, power was restored, the lights came up and air conditioning cooled the somewhat flushed throng. As she has over the decades of her reign, the Queen won the hearts of the men and women presented to her with her gracious manner, friendly smile, and firm handshake.
It was a lovely evening.
Her Majesty told her audience, “On my first visit, before I was queen, I noted that from the moment I came to Canadian soil, my sense of apprehension disappeared, because I understood that I was not only among friends but among fellow citizens," she said. "Today, many years later, I still feel as much affection and admiration for Canada."
Prime Minister Harper announced that the Government of Canada will make, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, contributions to three charitable foundations: the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, the True Patriot Love Foundation, and the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund.
Her Majesty had asked that contributions be made to charitable organizations which provide support to disadvantaged youth, Canadian military personnel, veterans and their families.
The Prime Minister also provoked a broad smile when he also presented Her Majesty with a Team Canada hockey jersey from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. She asked that the jersey, embossed with her royal insignia, be assigned to Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame.
Throughout the Royal Tour, Her Majesty emphasized the special affection she holds for Canada and spoke of the pride and admiration she has for our remarkable nation.
