King and Queen’s 1939 Royal Tour of Canada and the US.

The 1939 Royal tour was undertaken against the backdrop of the threat of war in Europe to stimulate Canadian support for the ‘mother country.’ A short diversion to the United States was also arranged to provide an opportunity to cultivate solidarity with transatlantic friends.

On 17 May King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth landed at Wolfe’s Cove, Quebec to a 21-gun salute. The royal tour (which was to last four weeks) had been planned with meticulous attention to detail. Nevertheless, the organisers could not have predicted the start would be delayed by two days as Their Majesties’ sea journey from Portsmouth, aboard the Empress of Australia, was hampered by thick fog.

However, all this was soon forgotten as the Canadians were captivated by this first visit by a reigning King of Canada and his Queen to their Dominion. The Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, spoke for most when he stated, during a lunch at the Chateau Frontenac Hotel in Quebec City, ‘Today, as never before, the Throne has become the centre of our lives.’

Although the King was initially reticent, the Queen (who spoke fluent French) wowed the crowds with her famous charm, during a subsequent appearance at Montreal’s City Hall. Later, in the capital Ottawa (reached by an air-conditioned 12-carriage Royal Train which would act as the couple’s base throughout the majority of the 3224 mile trip), the Queen unveiled the foundation stone of the new Supreme Court and was delighted to be introduced to some Scottish stonemasons who hailed from Kirriemuir, near to her native Glamis. Even more touching was the unveiling, by the King, of the National War Memorial in Connaught Square, after which Their Majesties walked spontaneously among the gathered throng of 25000 Canadian veterans, talking to as many as possible. The royal walkabout was born.

After travelling westwards through the provinces of Ontario (which included a day of engagements in Toronto), Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta (where an overnight was spent at the famous Banff Springs Hotel) and British Columbia, the King and Queen reached the westernmost destination of the tour (Victoria, Vancouver Island) on 30 May. The King celebrated by presenting new colours to the Royal Canadian Navy at Beacon Hill. The return journey eastwards, by a different route, included busy stops in Edmonton and Saskatoon (where the royals paid a visit to the Massey Harris tractor factory).

On 7 June, Niagara Falls was reached. After touring the Falls and dining at the General Brock Hotel, the royal couple crossed the Peace Bridge to Buffalo in New York State. This signalled the start of a gruelling 5-day tour of the United States which commenced with a visit, on 8 June, to Washington D.C. in 95 degree heat. After being formally welcomed by President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor at Union Station, the royal couple then attended a garden party at the British Embassy followed by a State Dinner, hosted by the President, at the White House. Next day, the King and Queen visited the Capitol, lunched aboard the presidential yacht and toured George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. The royals then travelled overnight by train to New York to attend the World Fair at Flushing Meadows and visit Columbia University in Manhattan.

In the evening the couple motored the 80 miles to Springwood, the President’s country home at Hyde Park, where events were soon enlivened by the collapse of a serving table during dinner. Roosevelt later had a long talk about the European political situation with the King until 1.30am, when the President ended the conversation with the words, ‘Young man, it’s time for you to go to bed.’ By contrast, the next day-a Sunday-was mainly devoted to relaxation, with the Roosevelt’s serving hot dogs to their royal guests at a hill-top barbecue.

Thereafter, the King and Queen returned to Canada where they toured New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The couple then travelled onwards to Halifax in Nova Scotia where, on 15 June, the King made an emotional address of thanks to his Canadian subjects during a farewell luncheon at the Nova Scotian Hotel. Subsequently, the couple embarked the Empress of Britain for the long journey home by sea to England via Newfoundland.

In retrospect, it has to be said that the tour strengthened Canadian support and affection for the Monarchy; it also served to establish a useful rapport between King George VI and President Roosevelt. Commentators, including Lord Tweedsmuir ( the Governor-General of Canada), generally thought that the King and Queen had done a good job. The last word must go to the Queen who reflected, ‘It made us, the King and I.’

Royal Charity Event.

Every year Princess Olga of Yugoslavia organised and presided over charitable sales of work in Belgrade. These events were organised to raise funds for the many causes of which the Princess was Royal Patron, with the focus being on the welfare of mother and child. Olga was very ‘hands on’ and set up her own stall for the event, with items often sourced in London by her childhood nanny, Kate Fox (‘Nurnie’). In the accompanying image we see the Princess (on the left) preparing to sell her wares once the event has been declared opened by Queen Marie of Yugoslavia (pictured centre). To the right is Olga’s youngest sister, Princess Marina of Greece, a frequent visitor to Belgrade prior to her marriage to Prince George, the Duke of Kent.