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Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch, since February 6, 1952. As such she is the de jure head of state, though she does hold several powers that are hers alone, while the Governor General is sometimes referred to as the de facto head of state. Governor General: Role

In Canada, the Queen's official title in English is: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

In French, the Queen's title is: .

The heir apparent is Elizabeth II's eldest son, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. The Queen's Privy Council for Canada is expected to proclaim him King of Canada upon his acession to the Throne after the Queen's death or abdication. There are several other members of the Canadian Royal Family besides those aforementioned, including the Queen's other children and cousins.

Constitutional monarchy in Canada

International vs. domestic role

One of the most complicated features of the Canadian Monarchy is that it is a shared monarchy.

Some 53 states are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. 16 of these countries are specifically Commonwealth Realms who recognize, individually, the same Monarch as their Head of state. Canada is one of these. Although Elizabeth II is separately Monarch of each of the Commonwealth Realms, each nation – including Canada — is sovereign and independent of the others.

Development of shared monarchy
The Balfour Declaration of 1926 provided the dominions the right to be considered equal to Britain, rather than subordinate; an agreement that had the result of, in theory, a shared Crown that operates independently in each Realm rather than a unitary British Crown under which all the dominions were secondary. The Monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution, although it has often been called "British" since this time (in both legal and common language) for reasons historical, legal, and of convenience.

The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, 1927 was the first indication of this shift in law, further elaborated in the Statute of Westminster, 1931.

Under the Statute of Westminster, Canada has a common monarchy with Britain and the other Commonwealth Realms, and though laws governing the line of succession to the Canadian throne lie within the control of the Canadian Parliament, Canada cannot change the rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship by means of a constitutional amendment. This situation applies symmetrically in all the other Realms, including the UK. These concepts were reasserted by Justice Rouleau in a 2003 court ruling in which he wrote that "Union under the British Crown together with other Commonwealth countries a constitutional principle." (Note: here "British Crown" is the traditional reference to the Crown shared amongst the Realms, not the Crown in Right of the UK.)

On all matters of the Canadian State, the Monarch is advised solely by Canadian federal and provincial ministers. Effective with the Constitution Act, 1982, no British or other Realm government can advise the Monarch on any matters pertinent to Canada.In 1997, British Prime Minister Tony Blair intended to offer a Life Peerage to Canadian businessman Conrad Black. Citing the 1919 Nickle Resolution, the Canadian government advised the Queen that they have objected to such honours for many years. If Blair had not backed down, the Queen would have been in the situation of having to grant an honour on the advice of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to object to the same as Queen of Canada on the advice of then Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien. The problem was resolved when Black renounced his Canadian citizenship. Canada raised no further objections and he was granted his peerage, becoming Lord Black of Crossharbour.

Queen Elizabeth II, is the current monarch's conventional title for all her Commonwealth Realms, but is generally addressed as "Queen of Canada" when she is actually present in Canada or when she otherwise performs duties relevant to Canada abroad, on the advice of her Canadian ministers. Some examples are conferring Canadian honours while in the United Kingdom or participating in the Canadian World War II Memorial Ceremonies in France.

In addition to the Queen's role in each of her Realms, the Canadian Monarch is also the nominal Head of the Commonwealth. Though this title, does not imply any political power over member nations, and does not automatically belong to the monarch, only the shared monarch of the Commonwealth Realms has ever held this title.

Finance
Contrary to common misconception, Canadians do not pay any monies to the Queen, either for personal income or to support the Royal residences outside of Canada. Only when the Queen is in Canada, or acting abroad as Queen of Canada, does any Canadian government support her in the performance of her duties. This rule applies equally to other members of the Royal Family.

Provincial and federal records of expenditures associated with the Crown are kept, but no official report on the cost of the monarchy to Canadians is compiled. However, the Monarchist League of Canada triannually issues a survey, based on various federal and provincial government budgets, expenditures and estimates, that outlines a yearly cost for the functioning of the Crown. The 2005 survey found that the institution cost Canadians roughly $49 million in 2004. $1.53 per Canadian: The Cost of Canada's Constitutional Monarchy, 2005Previous surveys found that the overall cost of the Canadian Crown was $22 million in 1999 The Cost of Canada's Constitutional Monarchy: 74 Cents per Canadian and $34 million in 2002. The Cost of Canada's Constitutional Monarchy: $1.10 per CanadianThe Constantian Society. The Constantian Society's detailed comparison of the costs of monarchies versus republics.

Usually the Queen's Canadian governments pay only for the costs associated with the Governor General and Lieutenant-Governors in their exercising of the powers of the Crown on behalf of the Queen, including travel, security, residences, offices, ceremonial occasions, etc.

Constitutional role

Canada's constitution is made up of a variety of statutes and conventions that are either British or Canadian in origin, which gives Canada an almost identical system of government as the UK and other Commonwealth Realms. As a result succession to the throne is by male-preference primogeniture, and governed by the provisions of the Act of Settlement, as well as the English Bill of Rights. These documents are now part of Canadian constitutional law, under control of the Canadian parliament only.

This legislation lays out the rules that the Monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one, and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne. This has led to a legal challenge (see O'Donohue v. Her Majesty the Queen). As Canada's rules of succession are identical to those of the United Kingdom (by the Statute of Westminster) see Succession to the British Throne for more information.

All powers of State are constitutionally reposed in the Monarch, who is represented at the federal level by the Governor General of Canada and at the provincial level by Lieutenant-Governors. The Governor General is appointed by the Monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. The ten Lieutenant-Governors are appointed by the Governor General, in the name of the Monarch, upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada, in consultation with the relevant provincial premier, though the Monarch is informed of the Prime Minister's decision before the Governor General gives assent.

The Commissioners of Canada's territories of Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories are appointed by Governor-in-Council, at the recommendation of the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. But as the territories are not sovereign entities, the commissioners are not representatives of the Sovereign. They receive instruction from the said Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Duties
Most of the Queen's domestic duties are performed by the Governors General and Lieutenant.

As in the UK, the Monarch's role, and thereby the vice-regal's role, is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments operate, and the powers that are constitutionally hers are exercised wholly upon the advice of the elected government. It has been correctly said that since the death, in 1714, of Queen Anne, the last monarch to head the British cabinet (when almost all of Canada was still French colonial territory), that the monarch "reigns" but does not "rule". In Canada, this has been true since the Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the reign of Canada's last absolute monarch, King Louis XV of France.

In exceptional circumstances, however, the Monarch or vice-regal has acted against such advice based upon his or her reserve powers — as when Governor General Byng refused a request by Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King for a dissolution of Parliament and call for new elections. Also, Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta, John C. Bowen, in 1937 refused to grant Royal Assent to three bills passed by William Aberhart's Social Credit government on the grounds that they were unconstitutional.[http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pub/gdbook/Part1/page2.htm The Citizen's Guide to the Alberta Legislature Part I: The Foundation]

There are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by the Queen. These include: signing the appointment papers of Governors General and Lieutenant, the confirmation of awards of Canadian honours by the Governor General, and approving any change in the title of the Queen as Queen of Canada. Speech by Governor General Roland Michener, Nov. 19, 1970 On occasion the Monarch must personally act directly in partisan affairs. For example, this occurred when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney advised Queen Elizabeth II to expand the number of Senate seats to assure passage of the GST. The Queen followed his advice, and as Mulroney became accountable for that advice.

It is also possible that if the Governor General decided to go against the Prime Minister's or the government's advice, the Prime Minister could appeal directly to the Monarch, or even recommend that the Monarch dismiss the Governor General.

Royal Assent
Royal Assent and proclamation are required for all acts of Parliament and of the provincial legislatures, usually granted or withheld by the Governor General or Lieutenant-Governor, with the Great Seal of Canada, or the appropriate provincial seal. The Vice-Regals may reserve a bill for the Monarch's pleasure, that is to say, allow the Monarch to make a personal decision on the bill. A Lieutenant-Governor of a province may similarly defer to the Governor General (who may in turn defer to the Monarch). The Monarch has the power to disallow a bill (within a time limit specified by the constitution). Recently activists opposed to Bill C-38 lobbied Queen Elizabeth II to disallow the legislation after it was passed by parliament. However it received Royal Assent from the Governor General on July 19, 2005. Territorial legislatures, unlike their provincial counterparts, are subject to the oversight of the Government of Canada.

Cultural role

Representation of the State
At one time the Monarchy was considered a purely British institution, when most Canadians still continued to be both legally, and by personal view, British subjects. However, paralleling the changes in constitutional law, and the evolution of Canadian nationalism, the cultural role of the Monarchy in Canada altered.

Today the Sovereign is regarded as the personification of the State, and is the "personal symbol of allegiance, unity and authority for all Canadians." The Crown in Canada

The federal and provincial governments now recognise and promote the Queen's role as Monarch of Canada as separate to her position as Queen of the United Kingdom. Canada: a Constitutional Monarchy Biography: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Queen of Canada The Crown in Canada

Elizabeth II stated in 1973:

"But it is as Queen of Canada that I am here, Queen of Canada and of all Canadians, not just of one or two ancestral strains. I want the Crown to be seen as a symbol of national sovereignty belonging to all. It is not only a link between Commonwealth nations, but between Canadian citizens of every national origin and ancestry."

From time to time members of the Royal Family will also represent Canada abroad. This has occurred when, in 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the United States as King and Queen of Canada, accompanied by Prime Minister Mackenzie King, as opposed to a British minister. As well, in 1959 the Queen undertook a state visit to the United States as Queen of Canada, hosting the return dinner for then-US President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Canadian embassy in Washington.

The Queen, Prince Charles, and the Princess Royal have also participated in Canadian ceremonies for the anniversary of D-Day in France, most recently in 2004,Canadian Heritage: Timeline: The Queen as well as Canadian events in the UK, such as when The Queen dedicated the Canadian War Memorial in Green Park, London, in 1996; opened Canada House; or when a reception is held for Canadians at Buckingham Palace.

In Canada major public inquiries are called Royal Commissions, and are created by the Cabinet on behlf of the Monarch through a Royal Warrant.

Title
One of the first post-war examples of Canada's status as an independent monarchy was the alteration of the Monarch's title, by the Royal Style and Titles Act. For the first time the official Canadian title mentioned Canada separately from the United Kingdom and the other Realms, to highlight the Monarch's role specifically as Queen of Canada, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the Realms: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

When the Canadian House of Commons debated the Queen's title in 1953, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent asserted on the nature of the separate and shared characteristics of the Crown:

"Her Majesty is now Queen of Canada but she is the Queen of Canada because she is Queen of the United Kingdom … It is not a separate office" Canadian Royal Heritage Trust, Hansard February 3, 1953, page 1566

This format was consistent with the form of the Queen's titles in the other Realms, as had been agreed upon by all the Realm governments in 1953. As of 2005, only Canada and Grenada retain this form, all others, other than the UK, having dropped the reference to the United Kingdom.

Although the Queen's Canadian titles include "Defender of the Faith / ," neither the Queen, not any of the Governors has any religious role in Canada; there have been no established churches in Canada since before confederation. This is one of the key differences from the Queen's role in the United Kingdom where she is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

In a speech to the House of Commons in 1953, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent stated on this topic:

"… The rather more delicate question arose about the retention of the words defender of the faith. In England there is an established church. In our countries other monarchies of the Commonwealth there are no established churches, but in our countries there are people who have faith in the direction of human affairs by an all-wise Providence; and we felt that it was a good thing that the civil authorities would proclaim that their organisation is such that it is a defence of the continued beliefs in a supreme power that orders the affairs of mere men, and that there could be no reasonable objection from anyone who believed in the Supreme Being in having the sovereign, the head of the civil authority, described as a believer in and a defender of the faith in a supreme ruler."

Symbols

Despite the removal and/or replacement of certain monarchical symbols as national symbols through the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the fact that the Canada's Royal Family is not resident in Canada itself, the Crown remains a visible part of the everyday lives of Canadians. What were formerly purely British symbols became symbols of the Monarch, or loyalty there to.

The Royal Union Flag remains an official flag in Canada, though a distinctly Canadian flag was adopted in 1964 as the National Flag. God Save the Queen remains the royal anthem and forms part of the Canadian Royal Salute, which is performed by playing the Royal Anthem followed by the National Anthem, O Canada. The Vice-Regal Salutes also includes the first six bars of God Save the Queen, which then modulate into the first four and last four bars of O Canada. The relevant Vice-Regal Salutes are played only for the Governor General and each Lieutenant-Governor as they represent Canada's Monarch.

Images of St. Edward's, the Tudor, and King's Crown are also visible on police forces badges (see OPP Logo.jpg), military badges (see Canadian Forces emblem.svg), some provincial, even personal coats of arms (see Coat of Arms of Quebec), on Canada's Royal Coat of Arms, on various medals, and awards.

These latter cases reflect the monarch's place as the ceremonial head of the Canadian honours system. As such, only she can approve the creation of an honour, which she does as requested by government of Canada. Although, the Governor General administers most responsibilities relating to Canadian honours on the Queen's behalf. The most recent example of this is the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal which was approved by the Queen in December 2004,Governor General announces the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal and first presented by Governor General Michaëlle Jean in May 2006.Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean Speech on the Occasion of the Inaugural Presentation of the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal

The reigning monarch's image is traditionally printed on Canadian coins, some currency and postage stamps such as the Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp. Portraits of the Monarch are often found in government buildings, military installations, many schools, as well as Canada's high commissions and embassies abroad.

In Canada, Victoria Day has become the holiday for celebrating Canada's monarchy. Traditionally the monarch's birthday — in the case of Queen Elizabeth II, April 21 — is the day for honouring the reigning monarch. Since 1953, however, the official birthday of Canada's monarch has been Victoria Day. Originally the holiday was set by vice-regal proclamation on the first Monday before May 24 of every year, but in 1957 the date of the national holiday was permanently fixed by statute.

Royal presence
For over 200 years members of the Royal Family have visited or lived in Canada. Though all of the Royal Family currently lives abroad, members are still regular visitors to Canada, enough so that on occasion Royal visits to Canada are also referred to by monarchists as "Royal Homecomings." These events are often marked with a variety of ceremonies, the granting of honours and general celebrations, even though these events are not always official holidays.

The Queen regularly undertakes tours of Canada to celebrate Canadian culture, milestone anniversaries, military rememberances, etc. Other Royals will perform the same tasks in the Queen's place, from time to time, usually on a less grand scale or for events of a lesser importance. These tours are at the invitation of, organized, and paid for by the Canadian government, provincial government, or a combination of both; hence, they are called "official tours" or "official visits."

Legal role

In Canada the legal personality of the State is referred to as "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada", and likewise for the provinces and territories (i.e., "in Right of Ontario," etc.). For example, if a lawsuit is filed against the federal government, the respondent is formally described as Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. The monarch as an individual takes no more role in such an affair than in any other business of government. For example a case, in which, a province sues the federal government, would formally be called Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

Similarly the oath of allegiance to Canada, sworn by new citizens, the Canadian Forces, police officers, and parliamentarians, is an oath of allegiance to the monarch as sovereign of Canada, and to his/her heirs and successors according to law. The relationship between the Oath taker and the Monarch is a complex one with roots reaching back to historical periods when a monarch ruled and accepted an Oath of fealty. Modern Oaths are still reciprocal but now the Oath taker places their allegiance to the continuing State, its laws, etc., as embodied by the Monarch. As the legal personality of the State, the Monarch has obligations to the Oath taker. The Monarch's acceptance of her responsibilities to her subjects is symbolised by the Coronation Oath, where he or she promises "to govern the Peoples of... Canada... according to their respective laws and customs."The Form and Order of Service that is to be performed and the Ceremonies that are to be observed in the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, on Tuesday, the second day of June, 1953

In addition the Monarch also serves as a symbol of the legitimacy of Courts of Justice, and of their judicial authority. An image of the Queen or the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada is always displayed in Canadian courtrooms, except in the province of British Columbia where the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of the United Kingdom are displayed as a symbol of its judiciary. * Itinerant judges will display an image of the Queen and the Canadian flag when holding a session away from established courtrooms. Such situations occur in parts of Canada where the stakeholders in a given court case are too isolated geographically to be able to travel for regular proceedings.

The Crown and the First Nations

As with the Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand, Canada's First Nations view their treaties as being agreements directly between them and the Crown, not with the ever-changing government. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 made clear that the First Nations were autonomous political units and affirmed their title to lands. It remains an important document, mentioned in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, outlining the Canadian Crown's responsibility to protect First Nations' territories and maintain the bilateral "nation-to-nation" relationship. A Historical Analysis of Early Nation to Nation Relations in Canada and New Zealand:The Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Treaty of Niagra and The Treaty of Waitangi Fundamental Treaty Principals

An early example of the Crown's protection of First Nations people was during the American Revolution. As a consequence of the Mohawk Nation's alliance with the British, through being a part of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, the Mohawk peoples were forced from their lands in the Mohawk Valley, in present day New York State, by the revolutionaries. As compensation, the British Crown promised land in Canada to those displaced by the war. In 1784 some Mohawks settled in what is now the Bay of Quinte, where North America's only two Royal chapels, Christ Church Royal Chapel of the Mohawks and Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks, were built to symbolise the connection between the Mohawk peoples and the Crown.

To commemorate a diplomatic visit to Queen Anne by the "Four Mohawk Kings", or the three Mohawk and one Mahicanin Chiefs of the Iroquoian Confederacy, in 1710, the portraits of the "Four Indian Kings" were painted by Jan Verelst. After they hung in Kensington Palace for almost 270 years, Queen Elizabeth II donated them to the Canadian Collection at the National Archives of Canada, unveiling them in Ottawa in 1977.

Also in 1984, as a bicentennial gift, Queen Elizabeth II gave the Christ Church Royal Chapel of the Mohawks a new silver chalice to replace one lost during the American Revolution. The lost chalice was from a set given to the Mohawks by Queen Anne in 1712 to embody the relationship between the Crown and Mohawk people. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

Treaty No. 7 was signed by the Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan, Sarcee and Stony Indian tribes in 1877, ceding the praries of Southern Alberta to what was then the British Crown. In 1977, Prince Charles visited Alberta to attend celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the treaty signing.

A modern demonstration of the relationship between the First Nations and the Crown was seen in 1994 when the Dene community of the Northwest Territories presented a list of grievances over stalled land claim negotiations to Queen Elizabeth II, rather than to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, while the two were attending an Aboriginal Cultural Festival in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. After speaking with the Chief, the Queen handed the list to the Prime Minister for the Cabinet to address.

In 1976, during a visit to the Eastern Arctic in northern Canada, the Inuit gave Prince Charles a distinctive title, calling him Attaniout Ikeneego, meaning "The Son of the Big Boss." Are You an "Ace" at Kings and Queens?: A children's quiz on monarchy in Canada In 1996, Cree and Ojibway students in Winnipeg named Prince Charles "Leading Star." Royal Involvement With Canadian Life

In May 2005 the Queen, during a visit to the First Nations University of Canada in Saskatchewan, presented a piece of Balmoral granite engraved with the ciphers of Queen Victoria and herself. The gesture behind the gift was outlined in the Queen's words:

"This stone was taken from the grounds of Balmoral Castle in the Highlands of Scotland — a place dear to my great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. It symbolises the foundation of the rights of First Nations peoples reflected in treaties signed with the Crown during her reign.

"Bearing the cipher of Queen Victoria as well as my own, this stone is presented to the First Nations University of Canada in the hope that it will serve as a reminder of the special relationship between the Sovereign and all First Nations peoples." CBC: First Nations say they're left out of royal visit

Nevertheless, First Nations groups complained that their role during the Queen's visit was a purely symbolic one, and were disappointed that neither the provincial nor federal governments granted them a private audience with the Queen to express concerns about treaty violations.

The Crown and the Canadian Forces

The Crown retains a prominent place within the Canadian Forces. The Constitution Act, 1867 states that the Command-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces is vested in the Queen. However, the 1905 Militia Act changed references to the Office of the Governor-General to become the Office of the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia; the title and its duties being held and performed by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign. The Letters Patent of 1947 further reinforce this position. Governor-General of Canada: Commander in Chief of the Canadian Forces

The Sovereign's position and role in the military is reflected by Canadian naval vessels bearing the prefix Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) (subsequently His Majesty's Canadian Ship during the reign of a king), and all members of the armed forces must swear allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and successors.

In 1968, Defence Minister Paul Hellyer, under the Government of Pierre Trudeau, unified the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force into the Canadian Armed Forces, over the protests of many senior generals, admirals and air marshals. The "Royal" title was not bestowed upon the new unified service, though many of the former Army units retain the title and vessels are still titled "HMCS". Also, crowns are included in the vast majority of Canadian military insignia.

Members of the Canadian Royal Family have presided over many military ceremonies, including Trooping the Colours, inspections of the troops, and anniversaries of key battles. Whenever Her Majesty is in Ottawa she lays a wreath at the National War Memorial. As well, two other examples of Elizabeth II acting as Queen of Canada abroad were associated with the Canadian military; one in 1996 when she dedicated the Canadian War Memorial in Green Park, London, and the other in 2003 when she attended the Canadian 60th anniversary of D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, France.

Members of the Royal Family are Colonel-in-Chief of many Canadian regiments, including: le Régiment de la Chaudière; the 48th Highlanders of Canada; le Royal 22e Régiment; the Governor General's Foot Guards; the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa; the Royal Newfoundland Regiment; and the Calgary Highlanders, amongst many others. For a more comprehensive list see: List of Canadian Organizations with royal patronage — Military

The Queen is also the Honorary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Land Forces: H.M. Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Canadian Royal Family

The Canadian Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the Canadian Monarch; it is a non-resident royal family, those who comprise the group live in the United Kingdom. The Canadian federal government maintains an official list of Royal Family members.Copps, Sheila; Toronto Sun: PM should ignore flag bureaucrats; April 26, 2006 Those on the list carry the style His or Her Majesty (HM), His or Her Royal Highness (HRH), or sometimes The Right Honourable.

Members of the Royal Family in the direct line of succession owe allegiance to the Sovereign in right of Canada. As such, they are Canadian subjects, although not strictly Canadian citizens, and thus do not have an automatic right of abode in Canada, but are entitled to Canadian consular assistance, and to the protection of the Queen's Armed Forces of Canada when they are outside of the Commonwealth Realms, and in need of protection or assistance.Noonan, Peter C., The Crown and Constitutional Law in Canada, Sripnoon Publications, Calgary, 1998.

The current Canadian Royal Family are members of the House of Windsor. Though the Canadian Crown is recognised as legally separate from the UK Crown, the two countries (along with the fourteen other Commonwealth Realms) are in a personal union relationship, meaning they share the same Monarchy. Thus all the members of the Canadian Royal Family also comprise the British Royal Family.

Canada could potentially break from the symmetrical relationship with the other Realms, giving it a different Royal Family to that of the other countries. However, this would contravene the important convention laid out in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster (a part of the Canadian Constitution).

In a speech given at the opening of the Nunavut legislature in October 2002, the Queen stated: "I am proud to be the first member of the Canadian Royal Family to be greeted in Canada's newest territory."Text of The Queen's address to the Legislative Assembly in Nunavut, Canada, 4 October 2002

Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, wife of the Prince of Wales, is of Canadian descent, being the great-great-granddaughter of Sophia Mary MacNab and William Coutts Keppel of Hamilton, Ontario. Sophia was the descendant of immigrants to Quebec in the 17th century and the daughter of Sir Allan MacNab, Premier of the Province of Canada. The couple's son (and Camilla's great-grandfather), George Keppel, married Alice Edmonstone, who would later become the mistress of King Edward VII (great-great-grandfather of Prince Charles). This same lineage makes Camilla a distant relation of Canadian singer Celine Dion, and Madonna. (French)

The official website of the Department of Canadian Heritage "Canadian Monarchy" section provides a list of Royal Family members.

The list has not been updated to take account of the deaths of Princess Margaret (2002), Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (2004) and Angus Ogilvy (2004); or the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles (2005) nor does it include the grandchildren of the Queen.

After the divorce of the Prince of Wales from Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1996, the Princess's name was removed from the official list of Royal Family honorees.Copps, Sheila; Toronto Sun: PM should ignore flag bureaucrats; April 26, 2006

As the Canadian Royal Family is comprised of the same members of the British Royal Family, see British Royal Family for further information.

Awards

Aside from awards which are personal gifts of the Sovereign, members of the Royal Family are commonly awarded Canadian honours on a strictly honorary and not substantive basis, reflecting the fact that members of the Royal Family are not strictly Canadian citizens: hence, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, for example, who in 1939 reportedly stated "I'm Canadian," was only an honorary recipient of the Order of Canada. Her Canadian honours were excluded from mention at her funeral in the UK, but were recognised at the commemoration service held in Ottawa.Queen Mother appointed to Order of CanadaCommemoration Service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,C.C.

Both Prince Charles and the Earl of Wessex have been awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.Prince Edward awarded Saskatchewan Order of Merit

History

The first French and British colonizers of Canada interpreted the hereditary nature of some indigenous North American chieftainships as a form of monarchy, often referring to these leaders as kings and their lands as kingdoms.The Four Indian Kings There is also evidence that the aborigionals had an understanding of monarchy, most notably in the legend of the Kingdom of Saguenay, and tales of "wealthy kingdoms in the north" told by Iroquoians to Jacques Cartier in 1534.Canada: History[http://www.macleans.ca/switchboard/article.jsp?content=20031027_68038_68038 Ferguson, Will; The Lost Kingdom; Macleans, October 27, 2003

Canada has been the territory of a monarchy or a monarchy in its own right, since the establishment of New France. Territory of the French Crown was merged with the North American colonies under the British Crown with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In 1867 Canada became a self-governing Dominion under the British Crown (originally intended to be named the Kingdom of Canada), and from that date to the patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982 Canada developed into a kingdom in its own right. Thus, kings and queens reigning over Canada have included the monarchs of France (from Francis I in 1534 to Louis XV in 1763), those of the UK (from Anne of Great Britain in 1713 to King George VI in 1952), to Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada today.

Canada's growth into a sovereign constitutional monarchy, with a Crown separate to that of the United Kingdom, was demonstrated in the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936; when Canada had to pass its own Succession to the Throne Act, that effected changes to the rules of succession in Canada so that they matched those within the other Realms of the British Empire.O'Donohue v. Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada A few years later Canada's new status was again demonstrated when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth traveled from Canada into the United States as King and Queen of Canada, being accompanied by Prime Minister Mackenzie King as the sole Minister in Attendance, and not a British minister.The Royal Tour of 1939

Various members of the Royal Family have often served as the vice-regal representative of the British, and later Canadian monarch. These included Lord Lorne, who was appointed as Governor General of Canada in 1878, HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, appointed in 1911, and Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, who arrived in Canada as the vice-regal in 1940.

The present Queen has been present in Canada more than any other monarch before her, having toured the country more than 22 times, being present for events such as the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the commemoration of the Charlotte and Quebec conferences, Canada's centennial, the Montreal Expo, her Proclamation of the Constitution Act 1982, her Silver and Golden Jubilees, and to mark the anniversaries of the entry of many provinces and territories into confederation.

Through the 1960s and 1970s, the rise of Quebec nationalism and changes in Canadian identity created an atmosphere where the purpose and role of the Canadian Monarchy came into question. Some references to the Monarch and the Monarchy were slowly removed from the public eye, and moves were made by the government to constitutionally alter the monarchy's place and role in Canada. The premiers of the provinces reacted strongly against these proposals.Dr. Stephen Phillips; Republicanism in Canada in the reign of Elizabeth II: the dog that didn't bark

The Constitution Act of 1982 entrenched the monarchy in Canada. Any change to the position of the monarch or the monarch's representatives in Canada now requires the consent of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the legislative assemblies of all the provinces.

In 1999 it was revealed that the federal government was again toying with the idea of changing Canada to a republic, however when this information was leaked to the media and public, there was strong negative reaction, and even denial by the Prime Minister. A survey of the provincial premiers at the time showed only one in favour of such a move.Premiers Nix Monarchy Abolition: "NOT A GOVERNMENT PROJECT AT THIS POINT"

In constrast to some other Commonwealth realms, none of Canada's Prime Ministers, past or present, have openly questioned or contested the status of the monarchy in Canada.

Debate

In contrast to Australian republicanism, there has been little national debate about ending the Monarchy in Canada. Many Canadians remain unaware that the Queen serves as Canada's Head of State, and the institution of the Monarchy has become less obvious to the majority of Canadians in recent years. The constitutional reforms of 1982 likewise made the Monarchy difficult to abolish, meaning such a pursuit would be a very complicated matter to "open up."

The monarchy vs. republic debate tends to be a largely academic one. Neither of Canada's two main political parties, The Liberal Party of Canada or the Conservative Party of Canada are officially in favour of abolishing the Monarchy. The New Democratic Party has officially stated it is willing to "explore" the issue, but in practice the party is not overtly pro-republic and largely supports the status quo. In recent years some politicians have overtly come out in favor of one side or another in the debate. Former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and former Minister Ken Dryden have expressed interest in ending the Monarchy, while former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps, Senator Anne Cools, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and present Prime Minister Stephen Harper have shown support for it.

Canada has two special-interest groups representing both sides of the debate, who frequently argue the issue in the media: Monarchist League of Canada and the Citizens for a Canadian Republic.

Organizations with royal association

Organizations under Royal Charter

In the Commonwealth Realms a Royal Charter is a charter granted by the Monarch on the advice of the Privy Council (or Executive Council), which creates or gives special status to an incorporated body. This is an exercise of the Royal Prerogative, and in Canada there are hundreds of organizations under Royal Charters. Such organisations include charities, businesses, colleges, universities, and cities.

Today it is mostly charities and professional institutions who receive Royal Charters.

Application for a charter is a petition to the Queen in Council. To receive a Royal Charter the organization must have corporate members who have at least first degree level in a relevant field, consist of 5000 members or more, be financially sound, and it must be in the public interest to regulate the institution under a charter. However, meeting these benchmarks does not guarantee the issue of a Royal Charter.

Companies
Canada's oldest company, the Hudson's Bay Company, was founded under a Royal Charter issued by King Charles II in 1670.

Cities
Cities under Royal Charter are not subject to municipal Acts of parliament applied generally to other municipalities, and instead are governed by legislation applicable to each city individually. The Royal Charter codifies the laws applied to the particular city, and lays out the powers and responsibilities not given to other municipalities in the province concerned.

Canada has four Royal Charter cities: Saint John, (the oldest, having received its charter in 1786 from King George III), Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal. Canada's Cities: Unleash our Potential

Universities and colleges

A number of Canadian universities and colleges were founded under Royal Charter.

From King George III:

From King George IV: From Queen Victoria:

Canadian Organizations with Royal Patronage

Until modern industrial times all development of the Sciences and the Arts were under the direct control of the Monarch.

This initial control was exercised by the foundation of the colleges that today form the basis of modern Universities. The endowments to provide for these colleges were once provided by the Crown to further education in both ecclesiastical and secular matters.

As time progressed the educated members of these organisations formed into groups to lecture, demonstrate and debate their various subjects. These groups either sought Royal Patronage or were created as memorials for the predecessors of the reigning monarch. Other colleges and foundations have been endowed by the owners of the great landed estates and in later times by industrialists and finally modern corporate bodies. However even in present times relatively new organisations still seek Royal Patronage.

To receive Royal Patronage an organisation must prove to be long lasting, and to be of the highest standard in their field. These organisations (for example, the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning, the Royal Canadian Humane Association, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and the Royal Niagara Military Institute) receive, and have received patronage from various monarchs and their families.

Organizations granted Royal Warrants

a Royal Warrant of Appointment is a grant made by senior members of the Royal Family to companies or tradespeople who supply goods and services to individuals in the family. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the Royal Family, so lending cachet to the supplier.

In Canada the following companies (purveyors) operate under Royal Warrant:

Further information: Royal Warrant

Awards

A number of awards in Canada are issued in the name of previous or present members of the Royal Family. These include:

  • The NHL's Prince of Wales Trophy, donated by and named for Edward, Prince of Wales
  • The Queen's Plate, named for Queen Victoria
  • The Prince of Wales Stakes, named for Edward, Prince of Wales
  • The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
  • The Queen Elizabeth II Cup for horse show jumping
  • The Prince Andrew Cup for cross-country running
  • The Duke and Duchess of York's Prize in Photography
  • The Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship offered at Saint John’s-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg
  • The Prince of Wales Prize for Built Heritage, for the conservation and preservation of buildings of historic importance
  • The Connaught Cup, for pistol marksmanship in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • The Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Ontario high school graduates

See also

External links

Official sites from the Canadian government

Other External Links

Footnotes

Monarchy in Canada | British Empire | Commonwealth realms | Government of Canada | Legal history of Canada | Monarchies | Heads of state | Royal families

Monarquía en Canadá | Monarchie canadienne | Monarcha Kanady | Monarquia no Canadá | Канадска монархија

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Monarchy in Canada".

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