In 2022, Canada is celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It’s a wonderful opportunity to recall past royal visits to Lambton County and explore items in the Lambton Heritage Museum collection that reveal our fascination with royalty.
Queen Elizabeth II is Canada’s longest reigning sovereign and the first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. This marks seventy years on the throne. She became queen following the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952. Her coronation was held over a year later on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
In Forest, a parade was held to celebrate her coronation. Dallas and Joyce McColl won second prize for their float. They built a crown out of wire mesh and decorated it with tulips. This was placed in a carriage drawn by a team of white horses with a harness they painted bright red. According to Dallas, “The horses had never been in town and everyone thought I was crazy taking them in a parade.”
As Queen, Elizabeth II has made twenty-two official visits to Canada. In 1959, an extensive 45-day royal tour by the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, included stops in all provinces and territories. An important function of this tour was to officially open the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Queen and Prince Philip travelled along the seaway aboard HMS Britannia (the royal yacht). On this trip, Queen Elizabeth II made her one and only official stop in Lambton County, at Sarnia.
Queen Elizabeth II was not the first member of the British royal family to visit Lambton County. Nearly one hundred years earlier, nineteen-year-old Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, took the train from London to Sarnia as part of a royal tour. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and eventually became King Edward VII. He arrived in Sarnia on September 13, 1860. The beautiful St. Clair River provided a backdrop for his reception. There were seats for over 5,000 people. Spectators lined the wharf and others watched from steamers nearby. Mayor Thomas William Johnston welcomed the Prince.
The outlet of Lake Huron where it flows into the St. Clair River is a traditional First Nations gathering place. A grand council meeting of chiefs and warriors was held at Sarnia in the days before the Prince’s visit. A large contingent of Indigenous delegates later attended the Prince’s reception.
Some wore traditional dress, while others wore European-style clothing. Henry Pahtahquahong Chase spoke on behalf of his people and one of the chiefs addressed the Prince in his native language with the aid of an interpreter. The Indigenous delegates each received a silver medal with Queen Victoria on one side and the Royal coat-of-arms on the other. The Prince was given a tomahawk and other items.
After the ceremony, the Prince of Wales dined at the Point Edward Grand Trunk Railroad station, supposedly the grandest station west of Toronto at that time. He took a jaunt out into Lake Huron on the Grand Trunk steamer, Michigan, then returned to London by train.
The third son of Queen Victoria, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, also made a memorable visit to Sarnia. As Governor-General of Canada, the Duke was present when Sarnia officially became a city on May 7, 1914. The Duke was accompanied by his popular daughter, Princess Patricia. In his welcoming address, Sarnia mayor Joseph B. Dagan said, “In testimony of our loyalty to the King and to your Highness as representative in Canada, and in the public expression of our affection and regard for all the members of your illustrious family, we have taken the liberty of selecting as a synonym for Sarnia the title of the Imperial City, thus linking the title of the Reigning House of the Empire with our young city’s name.”
Queen Victoria was warm-hearted, lively, and well-loved. She became Queen in 1837 at the age of eighteen. When she died in 1901, her reign had lasted almost sixty-four years. This was the longest in British History until Queen Elizabeth II. Jubilees were held to celebrate the 50th (1887) and 60th (1897) anniversaries of her ascension to the throne. Both were marked by local events and ceremonies.
In 1939, the Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) came close enough to Lambton County to stir up considerable local interest. King George VI was the first reigning monarch to visit Canada. Travelling by train, the royals passed through Glencoe and Chatham, and made a one-hour stop in London.
Frances Eagleson recalled leaving home at 7am to take the train from Hensall to London. Her party was met by a Boy Scout who took them to their reserved site on St. James Street. They unfolded new camping chairs and sat down to await the royal cavalcade. “As the roar of the crowd grew louder I knew they were coming soon. First came the Mounties on motorcycles followed by the big black convertible where the King and Queen waved and smiled to everyone. … My memories are of the Queen as she was much prettier than I had imagined.”
According to Vel Fraleigh, the London visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was much anticipated. “Pupils from S.S. No. 1 Warwick were presented with a beanie, a Canadian flag, a commemorative ribbon, and a periscope to be used on this special day.”
“At 4am neighbours called neighbours to make sure everyone awoke early enough to have breakfast and do chores before departing for London. ... At precisely 10am the motorcade appeared. It was very exciting to see our King and Queen for the very first time. Surrounded by flowers they both graciously waved to a huge crowd of people as they passed the park. They made a lasting impression. My sister recalled the beautiful scent that lingered reminding her of this delightful occasion.”
Clarence Hodgson remembers taking a special excursion train from Forest to London to see the royals on June 7, 1939. Unfortunately the train was late. At London, “The Queen stepped out at the back of the coach, allowing us only a fleeting glimpse as she waved goodbye.” The excursion train was quickly re-routed to Niagara Falls to try to get a better view. “When we arrived in Niagara Falls, our train stopped on the track next to the royal train. We were able to see the coaches and touch the cars as we descended the train. We were also given the privilege to stand closest to the platform where the royal couple came off to greet the crowd.” Returning home in the wee hours of the morning, Hodgson would never forget taking the excursion train in pursuit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The pomp and excitement surrounding royal visits, parades, and events has left a legacy of recollections, photographs, and keepsakes. Over the years, some of these items and oral histories have made their way to Lambton Heritage Museum. During the seventy-first year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, our royal fascination continues.
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