When Canada was a place of refuge for European royals

CBC

04-05-2025

Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.
Every few years, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands has taken part in commemorations in Canada of the role it played in the Netherlands' liberation during the Second World War.
Margriet intended to be back in Canada later this month. While she has had to cancel her visit for medical reasons, her devotion to those commemorations remains strong.
"Princess Margriet has always emphasised the decisive role that Canada and the Canadians played in restoring her country's freedom," the Royal House of the Netherlands said on its website this week.
"Partly for this reason, the couple has taken part almost every five years in commemorations and celebrations in Canada."
Margriet has her own deeply personal connection to Canada — she was born in 1943 in Ottawa Civic Hospital. A federal proclamation declared the maternity ward extraterritorial, ensuring the new princess would only be a Dutch — and not also a Canadian — citizen.
"At the outset of the Second World War, when Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands, Canada extended a generous hospitality to my mother and sisters, offering a safe haven in Ottawa," Princess Margriet said in a video message to the Ottawa Hospital last year.
"Naturally, I have always felt a very strong connection to the country and city of my birth."
After the family returned to the Netherlands, Margriet's mother, Queen Juliana, and the Dutch government sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada as thanks for both the refuge offered to them and the role of Canadians in the country's liberation in 1945 (something that is also being commemorated over the next few days in the Netherlands).
"We in the Netherlands will always be conscious of the sacrifices made by so many young Canadians for our sake, for our liberty, which is why my country has also added to the annual tradition of sending tulip bulbs," Margriet said in her video message.
Margriet and her family weren't the only European royals who found refuge in Canada in the 1940s.
"There have never been so many members of European royal houses in Canada at the same time as there was during the Second World War," Toronto-based royal author and historian Carolyn Harris said in an interview.
French-speaking royalty came to Quebec, including Zita of Bourbon-Parma, the former empress of Austria, and her children, who had settled in Belgium but fled from there to Canada after the German invasion of that country.
Zita's sister-in-law, Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg, also came to Quebec during the war with her six children.
"For French-speaking royalty, there was a particular appeal to living in Quebec where there would be Catholic schools in French and there would be French-speaking post-secondary institutions," said Harris.
The current crown prince of Luxembourg, Guillaume, referenced that refuge during a trade visit to Toronto three years ago.
"I have personally a deep respect and a sincere gratitude towards the Canadian culture of welcome, not the least because it offered shelter to my family during the darkest hours of our contemporary history," he said.
The refuge that Canada offered to European royals was a result of several factors.
One was having royalty at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The Earl of Athlone, an uncle of King George VI, served as governor general from 1940 to 1946. His wife, Princess Alice, the Countess of Athlone, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria on her father's side.
"On her mother's side, she was a first cousin of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands," said Harris.
The mothers of Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, were sisters, added Harris, "so they were quite close and so the Athlones personally seemed to have co-ordinated there being refuge and housing for members of these various royal families."
The presence of European royals in Canada during the Second World War has led to warm and lasting relations between their countries and Canada.
"Princess Margriet, although she only has Dutch citizenship … became a living link between Canada and the Netherlands. She has visited Canada for numerous tulip festivals in Ottawa, for exhibitions of Dutch Golden Age art at Canadian art galleries such as the AGO, when KLM Direct flights were introduced from Toronto," said Harris.
"Between Luxembourg and Quebec, there are many close economic and cultural links and cultural exchanges that have taken place."
Such relationships could have further implications now, given the geopolitics of the world.
WATCH | Following the path of Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands:
Students to retrace path of Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands
3 days ago
Duration 2:02
Canadian teachers are taking students to the Netherlands to walk the same ground as soldiers from their hometowns who helped liberate the country from German occupation in 1945 — making history feel real for a generation born decades after the war.
"We see the importance of good will and warm relations between different countries at a time when the United States is undermining its own trade relationships with different countries around the world," said Harris.
"So Canada certainly has the potential to build on these warm relationships with Luxembourg, the Netherlands … and other countries across Europe, to forge new trade and cultural connections at a time when Canada is looking to diversify its range of trade partners during a time of growing tensions with the United States."
King Charles will come to Canada, deliver throne speech
One of our friends in CBC's politics bureau, Michael Woods, had this story from Ottawa on Friday, with files from Rosemary Barton and J.P. Tasker.
King Charles will travel to Canada later this month and deliver the speech from the throne on May 27.
"This historic honour matches the weight of our times," Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday as he announced the news. He added that Queen Camilla would join the visit.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon issued a statement confirming the royal visit on May 26 and 27.
"Whit [Fraser, Simon's husband] and I will be delighted to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Canada. Our Canadian identity is deeply rooted in our constitution and this visit highlights the enduring relationship between Canada and the Crown," she said.
"Now, more than ever, we need to come together to ensure a future that builds on our shared global values of democracy, equality and peace."
Every new session of Parliament is opened by a throne speech, a document that lays out the government's expected direction and goals, and how it plans to achieve them.
WATCH | Putting on emphasis on Canada's sovereignty:
Carney says King Charles opening Parliament 'underscores' Canada's sovereignty
2 days ago
Duration 2:31
When Charles and Carney met at Buckingham Palace before the election, the prime minister asked the King about the possibility of him coming to Canada to deliver the throne speech to open the next Parliament, CBC News has learned.
That Charles would come to Canada to deliver the speech from the throne "sends a clear message regarding his dedication to the role of King of Canada," Toronto-based royal author and historian Carolyn Harris said via email.
Much attention has focused in recent weeks on Charles's role as head of state of Canada, particularly in the face of repeated taunts from U.S. President Donald Trump about it becoming the 51st state.
"It seems fairly likely that the current state of relations between Canada and the United States shaped the decision to not only have the visit so soon but also for it to involve the opening of Parliament," Justin Vovk, a royal historian and member of the advisory Board of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, said via email.
"Mark Carney ran his campaign on a largely anti-Trump platform and reiterated that Canada will always remain sovereign, independent and free. Having Charles assume his place at the centre of our parliamentary institutions is a clear signal of Canada's unique political and national identity compared to our neighbours to the south."
Those who watch Charles closely saw an increase in signals and royal symbolism in support of Canada as it faced that repeated rhetoric.
Charles also referenced his role as "King of Canada" during an address recently to the Italian parliament, a rare statement — particularly coming as it did in an international, non-Commonwealth setting.
WATCH | Queen Elizabeth delivers the speech from the throne in 1957:
Queen Elizabeth: 1957 Opening of Parliament
68 years ago
Duration 10:30
The opening of Canada's new Parliament provides an "ideal opportunity" for a visit from Charles, who has not yet come to the country as monarch, said Harris.
"President Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, however, have increased the political significance of King Charles undertaking official engagements as King of Canada."
The King delivering the throne speech in Ottawa also follows historical precedent, she said.
"Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament during her first visit to Canada as a reigning monarch in 1957."
The last time the speech was actually read by Canada's head of state was when Queen Elizabeth delivered it in 1977.
Simon's statement said the royal visit's detailed itinerary will be published at a later date by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
At two days, it will be a short visit, but that, too, has precedent.
"Queen Elizabeth II's 1957 visit to Canada to open Parliament was also quite short," said Harris.
Other factors and logistics likely played into the timing, she added.
"The specific dates of the visit will have been organized quite quickly after the election, and royal schedules are set long in advance," said Harris.
"There may be a longer Canadian royal tour scheduled in the future when there is more time for planning and preparation. King Charles III's cancer treatment also limits opportunities for extensive royal tours, as demonstrated by his visit to Australia and Samoa, which did not include New Zealand."
It will be the King's 20th visit to Canada, and the Queen's fifth. Their last visit was in May 2022, when Charles was still the Prince of Wales.
A chance encounter with the King and Queen
Not long after King Charles spoke of his role as Canada's head of state while addressing the Italian parliament, three Canadian tourists had a serendipitous encounter with the monarch and his wife.
Erika Taylor, Sarah Lynch and Amy Dunham were on holiday in Rome. The longtime friends from Calgary were taking in the calm around them in the Eternal City on April 9 when they noticed signs that something was about to happen close by.
"We had been to the Pantheon in the morning, and then we went up to parliament and it was pretty much empty but … we noticed the British flag was flying next to the Italian flag," Taylor said.
Chatting with journalists who were there gave the Canadians a sense of what was up, and where King Charles and Queen Camilla would be after he had spoken in the Italian parliament.
"We knew where they were going to walk. And … we were talking and we said I bet if they see a Canadian flag, they'll stop, because they'll know we're friendly…. And so Amy's recording and I'm searching on my phone for a picture of the Canadian flag. I find one, get it up, hold it up," said Taylor.
WATCH | An unexpected royal encounter:
Seeing the King and Queen in Rome
2 days ago
Duration 0:12
Charles and Camilla did indeed pass their way, and the Canadians shook their hands and took photos and video of their fleeting royal encounter.
"They just seemed very at ease and they just seemed very pleasant, to be honest," said Lynch. "It was very thrilling."
It was also a little surreal.
"We were all just kind of sitting there: 'Did we just meet the King and Queen of England? What just happened? We're in Italy.' And then they came strolling back and we got to see then again," said Taylor.
The friends hadn't ever really talked among themselves about the royals, but found themselves united in their appreciation of the unexpected opportunity to see Charles and Camilla so closely.
Taylor sees Charles as one of the "most informed, educated people on the planet, especially when it comes to diplomacy and history," and one who wants to speak out for things he is passionate about, such as the environment. But he's also someone who is perhaps "a little bit constrained by his role" in sharing his opinions.
The chance encounter also offered the Calgary friends a reminder of the virtue of allowing yourself — particularly when you travel — to be open to whatever new experience might come your way.
"I think really in this day and age, when we're so over-scheduled and so busy, these amazing things happen when you just live in the moment, really, and you take advantage of these opportunities," said Lynch.
"This trip was very impromptu. We didn't have any scheduled plans and then we just ended up with this really amazing encounter…. It was a real thrill to see them in person. I think they really came across very genuine, very pleasant."
Picture this — more birthdays and an anniversary
Over one 10-day period in the middle of spring each year, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have three family occasions to celebrate: two birthdays and a wedding anniversary.
Pictures were released in recent days to mark Prince Louis's seventh birthday, William and Catherine's 14th anniversary and Princess Charlotte's 10th birthday.
The photo of a gap-toothed Louis, who turned seven on April 23, also came with a behind-the-scenes video.
"That's interesting to see, because when Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was undergoing cancer treatment, there was such controversy about that photograph that was released at Mother's Day that had been digitally altered," said Harris.
"By showing the behind-the-scenes for the photo shoot of Prince Louis's birthday, it reinforces the authenticity of that moment, that the public is getting to see where the images come from."
William and Catherine were in Scotland as they marked their 14th wedding anniversary. They spent time on the western isles of Mull and Iona over a two-day visit focusing on rural island communities. A shot of them looking out over the water from Mull was posted on social media on their anniversary on Tuesday.
In that photo, Harris saw how the personal and political can sometimes be combined for royalty.
"One of the major goals of King Charles III's reign has been to keep the United Kingdom united, as that's been one of the challenges post-Brexit," she said, noting among other things that Scotland has had an independence referendum in recent years.
But Scotland also has personal meaning for William and Catherine — they met at university in Scotland, and reportedly visited Mull as students.
"Some of these personal decisions — where to travel for their wedding anniversary for William … very much intersect with … wider questions of the Royal Family's relationship with the entire United Kingdom," Harris said.
A photo taken by Catherine of Charlotte during a visit to Cumbria, in northwestern England, earlier this year was posted Friday to mark her 10th birthday.
Royally quotable
"Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity. "
— King Charles, in a heartfelt message in recognition of community-based cancer support groups. Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024 and continues to undergo treatment.
Royal reads
Prince Harry told the BBC it was "impossible for me to take my family back to the U.K. safely" after he lost his legal challenge to the British government on Friday changing his security arrangements after he stepped down from royal duties. [CBC]
Virginia Guiffre, the woman who accused Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has died. She was 41. [CBC]
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are calling for stronger protections for children from the dangers of social media, saying "enough is not being done." [BBC]