Royal tours of Canada in the 21st century carry on the tradition of the previous 300 years,[1] either as an official tour, a working tour, a vacation, or a period of military service by a member of the Royal Family. Originally, royal tours of Canada were events predominantly for Canadians to see and possibly meet members of their royal family, with the associated patriotic pomp and spectacle. However, nearing the end of the 20th century, such occasions took on the added dimension of a theme; for instance, the 2005 tour of Saskatchewan and Alberta by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was deemed to be a vehicle for the Queen and all other Canadians to honour "The Spirit of Nation Builders".[2] Also, junior members of the Royal Family began to undertake unofficial "working" tours of Canada as well; in this method, royal figures are invited by provinces, municipalities, and other organizations to events which the latter fund without assistance from the federal government. Charles III; Anne, Princess Royal; Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, have all made several small tours in this fashion.
| Year | Dates | Persons | Locations | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4–6 June | The Earl of Wessex | ||
| 25–27 June | The Earl of Wessex | |||
| 14–18 July | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | To attend events for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award – Young Canadians' Challenge, attend performance of Emily Confederation Centre of the Arts, visit Rodd Brudenell River Resort, attend concert at St. Mary's Church, visit Cavendish Farms processing plant, visit Gateway Village, attend federal dinner at Delta Prince Edward Hotel, visit to All Souls' Chapel, attend luncheon at Government House, visit Confederation Birthplace Commemorative Park, attend official opening of the 39th annual Canadian Branch Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, attend reception with delegates and families at Fanningbank. | ||
| 28 September–3 October | The Duke of York | To be invested as Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's York Rangers,[3] attend events for Round Square, attend the state funeral of Pierre Trudeau.[4] | ||
| 23–26 November | The Duke and Duchess of Kent | To attend the dedication ceremony of the Waveney lifeboat White Rose of Yorkshire. | ||
| 2001 | 26–27 January | The Duke of York | To visit a former Chaplain at Lakefield College School. | |
| 4–8 April | The Duke of Kent | As President of the Royal National Lifeboat Association. | ||
| 25–30 April | The Prince of Wales (now Charles III) | In addition to the nation's capital, the Prince visited the only two regions of the country not previously visited — Saskatchewan and Yukon — to complete "his Canadian journey".[6] | ||
| 2–5 August | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | To attend the 8th IAAF World Championships. | ||
| 19–21 October | The Duke of Edinburgh | To present Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, attend events for the World Wildlife Fund. | ||
| 19–21 October | The Duke and Duchess of Kent | |||
| 2002 | 13–24 March | Prince Michael of Kent | To undertake duties as Colonel-in-Chief of the Essex and Kent Scottish. | |
| 21–25 June | Prince and Princess Michael of Kent | To attend the Queen's Plate. | ||
| 5–8 September | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | To attend events for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. | ||
| 20–24 September | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Ontario | To attend events for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. | |
| 4–15 October | The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh | To celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. | ||
| 2003 | 6–12 May | The Duke of York | To visit with the Queen's York Rangers, meet with trustees at Lakefield College School, turn the sod for the new mental health building of the British Columbia's Children's Hospital, visit the Regent Park Duke of York Public School, present Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, attend the Children Circle of Care Conference. | |
| 12–17 June | The Duke of York | To visit Lakefield College School, attend lunch with the Empire Club of Canada, visit the Greenwood School, visit Lester B. Pearson College.[7] | ||
| 18–25 June | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Centenaries of Regina, Moose Jaw and Lloydminster, open cultural centre, open the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College facility at the University of Regina. | ||
| 31 July–6 August | Prince and Princess Michael of Kent | Centenary and re-opening of the Lake of the Woods Yacht Club, opening of the Leo Mol garden. | ||
| 29 August–1 September | The Princess Royal | To visit with the Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Branch, perform charity work. | ||
| 2004 | 26–27 April | The Duke of Edinburgh | To attend the 40th Anniversary Gala for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. | |
| 4–8 June | The Princess Royal | To attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day, visit the Royal Regina Rifles, visit the Monarchist League of Canada, attend the Commonwealth Study Conference. | ||
| 13–18 October | Prince Michael of Kent |
| To open new joint Windsor Armoury and Police training facility. | |
| 2005 | 17–25 May | The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh | Centenary of the entry of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation.[8] | |
| 2006 | 11 May | The Duke of York | To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Canoe Museum.[9] | |
| 1–9 June | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | To visit the Monarchist League of Canada, attend events for the Ontario Heritage Trust. | ||
| 22 November | The Countess of Wessex | Visit Medical Discovery Tower at Toronto General Hospital and launch the Girls Programme at Verity Women's Club.[10] | ||
| 2007 | 30 April – 5 May | The Duke of York | ||
| 1–4 June | The Princess Royal | Centenary of the Royal Regina Rifles, open the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre, attend a demonstration by the Parkland Therapeutic Riding Association, celebrate the 125th anniversary of the settlement of the Yorkton, attend Regina's Freedom of the City Parade, meet with First Nations elders, and attend Saskatchewan Youth Awards gala.[14] | ||
| 26 June | Prince Harry | To train with Canadian Forces soldiers for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.[15] [16] | ||
| 2008 | 10–11 May | The Duke of York | To open a display at the Canadian Canoe Museum. | |
| 5–9 June | The Earl of Wessex |
| To participate in a number of events on behalf of various charitable organizations. | |
| 2009 | 23–28 April | The Duke of York | To participate in a number of events relating to the Princess Louise Fusiliers. | |
| 4–8 June | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | To undertake duties relating to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, South Alberta Light Horse, and open the Air Force Museum of Alberta. | ||
| 6 September-3 October | Prince Harry | Private working visit for the purpose of participating in a military exercise.[17] | ||
| 19 September | Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York | To accompany their mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, at the premiere of The Young Victoria at the Toronto International Film Festival.[18] | ||
| 2–12 November | The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall |
| Year | Dates | Persons | Locations | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 19–22 March[19] | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Attend events at the 2010 Winter Paralympics, meet with First Nations leaders and officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and distribute The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. | |
| 23–25 April[20] | The Princess Royal | |||
| 18–22 April[21] | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Attend paralympic games. | ||
| 25 April[22] | Princess Alexandra | Visit the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada | ||
| 28 June–6 July[23] [24] | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh | Celebrate the centenary of the Canadian navy, attend the Queen's Plate, open a new terminal at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, and lay the cornerstone of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, amongst other events. | ||
| 24 July[26] | The Earl of Wessex | |||
| 2011 | 30 June–8 July[27] | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge | Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, meeting Slave Lake wildfire firefighters, Calgary Stampede opening ceremonies; the first royal tour for the couple. | |
| 11–24 July | The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie of York | Private canoe trip and opening of North-Wright Airways float base and wilderness expedition support centre.[28] | ||
| 25–27 July | The Earl of Wessex | Present the Duke of Edinburgh's Award as the trustee to recipients in Canada. | ||
| 23–24 November | The Countess of Wessex | Charitable work, attend Aboriginal culture celebration. | ||
| 2012 | 20–23 May[29] | The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (now Charles III and Queen Camilla) | Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II | |
| 11–18 September[30] | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Meet with the Royal Victorian Order Association of Canada, attend Toronto International Film Festival, present colours to and lunch with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, view trooping of the colour by the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, visit Niagara College, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, and Market Lane School, attend 2015 Pan American Games briefing, distribute The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards,[31] Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals, and Royal Canadian Police Long Service Medals.[32] | ||
| 14–19 September | George and Sylvana Windsor, Earl and Countess of St Andrews | Attended a civic dinner and the launch of the Voices of Placentia Bay festival | ||
| 19–21 October | Princess Alexandra | Centennial of the Canadian-Scottish Regiment. | ||
| 2013 | 27 April | The Duke of Edinburgh | Present new regimental colours to 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. | |
| 16–19 May | The Duke of York | |||
| 23–26 October | The Princess Royal | Attend a Duke of Edinburgh's Awards study conference, a reception at Queen's Park, visit CFB Kingston, visit the Royal Canadian Medical Service training centre at CFB Borden, and attend a 33 Signal Regiment dinner at the National Club. | ||
| 1–2 November | The Earl and Countess of Wessex | Attend 50th anniversary of the foundation of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Canada,[33] attend presentation of accessibility symbol redesign awards.[34] | ||
| 2014 | 18–21 May[35] | The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall |
| Centennial of the start of the First World War, the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences. |
| 5 June[36] | The Duke of York | Present new battle honours to the Queen's York Rangers. | ||
| 12–20 September[37] [38] | The Earl and Countess of Wessex |
| Duke of Edinburgh Awards events, walk a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail, open a new library on the Ditidaht First Nation, community events on 'Namgis First Nation, reception with regional forest fire first responders, barbeque and regimental dinner with the Saskatchewan Dragoons Regiment, lunch with the Saskatchewan Consular Corps, inspect cadets at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Depot, reception for community leaders.[39] [40] | |
| 10–11 November[41] | The Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence | Events marking 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. | ||
| 2015 | 19–20 February | The Princess Royal | Present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to students,[42] visit McGill University in relation to role as President of the Emerging Leaders' Dialogue,[43] visit Santropol Roulant, visit the Royal Canadian Hussars as Colonel-in-Chief.[44] | |
| 26 October–3 November | The Earl of Wessex | 100th anniversary of Toronto Scottish Regiment, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, tour IWK Health Centre; event for community leaders and volunteers at Government House, Halifax. | ||
| 12–14 November | The Countess of Wessex | Tour First Nations services and cultural centre, tour Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, attend Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, meet with Lincoln and Welland Regiment,[45] | ||
| 2016 | 2 May[46] | Prince Harry | Invictus Games | |
| 28 June–1 July[47] | The Princess Royal | Mark Memorial Day and 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, visit Rainbow Riders therapeutic riding facility.[48] | ||
| 24 September–1 October | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte | |||
| 2017 | 29 June–1 July[49] | The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall | Canada's sesquicentennial celebration | |
| 22–30 September | Prince Harry | Invictus Games | ||
| 2018 | 28 June | The Princess Royal | Spoke at Rotary International's international convention[50] | |
| 5–8 November | ||||
| 2019 | 23–28 May | The Duke of York | Following a reception at the residence of Lieutenant Governor Arthur LeBlanc, the Duke took part in a military ceremony which involved the Princess Louise Fusiliers. He later met with entrepreneurs at the inaugural Canadian Pitch@Palace, an initiative founded by the Duke to support entrepreneurs.[51] [52] | |
| 14–15 November | The Countess of Wessex | Attend events for the 100 Women in Finance Next Generation Initiative, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Awareness Foundation, and Toronto General and Western Hospitals.[53] |
| Year | Dates | Persons | Locations | Reasons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17–19 May[54] | The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall | Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| 2023 | 24–27 April | The Duke of Edinburgh | To attend The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, events organized by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Odd Squad Productions Society, Vancouver Club, and the York House School, as well as meetings and receptions with indigenous and youth representatives, as well as local council members from BC.[55] | ||
| 13–14 May | Prince Michael | To present new regimental colours to the Essex and Kent Scottish.[56] | |||
| 18–21 May | The Princess Royal | To mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's). | |||
| 3–4 June | To attend the opening plenary session for The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conference.[57] | ||||
| 3–8 November | The Duchess of Edinburgh | To attend the Duchess of Edinburgh military competition hosted by the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, a dinner in support of the Lincoln and Welland Regimental Foundation, a Remembrance Day service, and to visit three University Health Network sites.[58] | |||
| 2024 | 3–5 May | The Princess Royal | Attended a series of engagements with the Royal Canadian Navy as the Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian Fleet Pacific. Also visited an urban farm, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association as its patron.[59] |