Royal Visit 1951
Date(s) of occurrence: 6 November 1951
Significance: Young Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip visit the Maritimes for the first time.
Summary of event: Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, arrived in Fredericton from Quebec on 6 November 1951 for a short visit of approximately five hours. The Royal couple were welcomed at the Bonar Law-Bennett Library, where they observed a number of special exhibits of volumes and artifacts laid out for them. After visiting the library, the couple went on an unscheduled and informal tour of the UNB campus, during which the Prince and Princess temporarily lost each other. The Prince proceeded to find the Princess back at the library with Dr. Trueman and an impromptu tea was served before the couple moved on to other destinations in the city. Reportedly, only three spoons were available and Prince Phillip offered to share his spoon.
Members of the Canadian Officers Training Corps and the University Naval Training Division combined to form the Honour Guard.
Notes: The Royal couple then visited several locations in Fredericton including the Cathedral and the Parliament building.
Upon getting in the Royal car to depart, the Royal couple was forced to exit momentarily as smoke billowed from the hood of the car. Once remedied, they re-entered and left.
Source(s):
- The Brunswickan, vol. 71, no. 6. September 1951, p. 1.
- UNB Scrapbooks (UA RG 100), September 1951 - August 1952. Telegraph Journal, "University Visit Loses Formality," 6 November 1951;
- UNB Scrapbooks (UA RG 100), September 1951 - August 1952. The Daily Gleaner, "Princess and Consort Visit U.N.B. Library: Cheered by Students," November 1951.
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