Frequently Asked Questions

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will tour Canada from June 28 to July 6, 2010.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will tour:

• Halifax, Nova Scotia;
• Ottawa, Ontario;
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, and
• Toronto and surrounding area in Ontario.

Consult the full itinerary.

Yes, Canadians will be invited to participate in public opportunities to see and welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness. Consult the tour's official itinerary.

The planning of this visit has been underway for some time.  The itinerary for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness is now being finalized.  As a result, no further engagements are being considered at this time.

For future tours, however, you may send your request to your provincial or territorial protocol office or to Canadian Heritage.

What is the protocol when meeting a member of the Royal Family?

Visits by the Royal Family are always special occasions, but individual engagements can range from the very formal to the informal. Please consult the guidelines for more information on protocol when meeting The Queen and members of the Royal Family.
 
How is the itinerary developed?

The Government of Canada has an ongoing planning process for Royal Tours. The government receives requests for visits by members of the Royal Family from the provinces or territories, cities and private organizations. These requests are then reviewed in the context of the priorities of the members of the Royal Family and the Government of Canada.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for the overall management of official Royal Tours and shares the responsibility for their development and execution with provincial and territorial governments. 

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be here during Canada Day. Will they participate in any celebrations?
Yes, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will take part in the Canada Day Noon Show on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Further details will be included in the final itinerary to be released closer to the actual tour.

Where can I find a portrait of The Queen?

Please consult the Canadian Heritage website to order an official portrait of The Queen produced by the Government of Canada.

Daily photos of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s tour of Canada will be posted in the online Photo Gallery starting June 29, 2010.

When was The Queen’s last Royal Tour of Canada?

The last Royal Tour of Canada by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh was in 2005 to celebrate the centennials of Saskatchewan and Alberta. 

How many Royal Tours has The Queen completed in Canada?

Since her accession to the Throne, Her Majesty The Queen has completed 21 Royal Tours of Canada. Her Majesty’s 2010 tour will mark her 22^nd Royal Tour of Canada as The Queen of Canada.

The 2010 Royal Tour will be The Queen’s 23^rd visit to Canada if you include her first Royal Tour as Princess Elizabeth in 1951.

Why does Canada have Royal Tours?

Royal Tours demonstrate the enduring ties between the Royal Family and Canadians.
Royal Tours also provide opportunities for Canadians to learn more about their history and their institutions. Such events and commemorations inspire a sense of pride and foster a greater understanding and appreciation of uniquely Canadian institutions such as the Crown and the values and symbols that unite us all.

Who pays for Royal Tours of Canada?

There are two types of Royal Tours: official tours and working or private visits.

The Government of Canada covers costs when it extends an official invitation. The provinces cover the costs of their own activities. As hosts, the provinces also share a portion of the travel and accommodation costs with the Government of Canada, based on pre-determined “cost-sharing agreements”.

Invitations for working or private visits may be extended by groups such as regiments, sports organizations, etc. In these instances, the Government of Canada has no financial involvement.

The Government of Canada does not contribute funding in support of the Royal Households in the United Kingdom.

Our system of government in Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The Government of Canada provides support for The Queen's representatives, the Governor General and our Lieutenant Governors in the provinces, and for Royal Tours from The Queen and the Royal Family.