Thursday May 2, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated May 5, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, will visit British Columbia during May 3 to 5.
That news was announced on April 25, and the visit has come up fast.
In the Victoria area, The Princess Royal will arrive at the Esquimalt Harbour and visit the BC Legislature, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and an inner-city food-growing garden.
Here is the list of activities including various community events with local organizations:
- The Princess Royal will attend the commissioning ceremony for His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays and sail overnight in the ship to Esquimalt.
- When HMCS Max Bernays enters Esquimalt Harbour, The Princess Royal will receive a 21 Gun Salute from the Black Rock naval battery.
- The Princess Royal will visit the Military Family Resource Centre and meet with staff, board members and service members and their families.
- The Princess Royal will pay respects and lay a wreath at the God’s Acre Veteran’s Cemetery.
- The Princess Royal will visit the archives and collections space of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, which was founded with an initial donation by Her Royal Highness’s late father, Prince Philip.[Update May 5: The Museum’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers discussed displays of artifacts and archival materials including items from the 1939 Royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; a dress uniform with gold braid as worn by then-Lieutenant James Calcutt Hibbard of Victoria for the presentation of King’s Colours during that visit; objects that were part of the founding Collection of Museum in 1955 when it opened as a Naval museum on Signal Hill outside the gates of MHC Dockyard in Esqumalt; a discussion of rare books, charts and ongoing digitization projects, research access to the Collection and Archives, and the extensive uniforms and textiles collection.]
- The Princess Royal will visit the FED Urban Agriculture project to learn about local sustainable food practices.
- The Princess Royal will attend the Battle of the Atlantic Commemorative Service at the British Columbia Legislature and lay a wreath.
- The Princess Royal will visit the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and present prizes at the Spring Dinghies Regatta.
- The Princess Royal will visit the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association and meet with staff, board members, clients, and their families. The Princess Royal will also tour the stables and present prizes.
- The Princess Royal will meet with Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin and various British Columbia community leaders.
The Princess Royal was appointed Honorary Commodore-in-Chief, Canadian Fleet Pacific, in 2015. The visit by Her Royal Highness is hosted by the Royal Canadian Navy.
