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Royal train visits Brandon October 17th 1951
10/17/2010 at 9:33 AM
On September 25th 1951 it was announced the departure day of an Ocean Liner for Britain’s “next on the throne” it was to transport the Royal Couple to Canada for a Royal Tour. It was later announced that they would visit all the provincial capitals.
Naturally Mayor Williamson of Brandon expressed his displeasure at the arrangements to only give Winnipeg an opportunity to welcome their Royal highnesses the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
After an amount of diplomacy between Brandon and Ottawa the nine car Royal train reached Brandon in the early morning of October 17th 1951. The Canadian pacific Railway platform was silently traversed by hundreds of local citizenry.
City columnist, Mrs. Kaye Rowe wrote in her column: “It was a scene sharply contrasting with the memorable May 24th 1939 visit, when the King and Queen were greeted by thousands of wildly excited school children …
The train chugged out of the station, wistful eyes following the last darkened coach carrying two people – objects of an Empires full hearted affection.”
In less than 6 months Princess Elizabeth would become Queen of England and the Commonwealth.
Source: Brandon a City, by G. F. Barker
Elizabeth would become Queen