The King’s Representatives in Canada


Since our King is monarch of 14 countries (“the Commonwealth Realms”) and cannot be in Canada all the time, 11 of our fellow Canadians represent her on a day-to-day basis: the Governor General and the 10 provincial Lieutenant Governors.

You can read more about these men and and women and their duties here, and Canada’s Governor General here.

Royal Homecomings to Canada


Members of the Royal Family often come to Canada to help celebrate important occasions such as Canada Day, open a new building in a community, visit organizations or military units in which they have a special interest, and support charities and good causes to gain publicity and raise funds.

We call these tours “homecomings” because our Royal Family does not “visit” here a foreign country as, for instance, the monarch or president of a foreign country might do. Instead, they come home to one of The King’s realms – and feel very much at home here.

You might think of the difference between the formal occasion when a parent brings home “the boss” from her workplace’s head office, and the special warmth we all feel when a grandparent or family member working overseas returns to be with the family.

Our Late Queen last came home to Canada in 2010. Charles and Camilla have returned here frequently, most recently in May of 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. William had often been in Canada before his marriage; with Catherine the couple enjoyed a huge welcome here in 2011 and 2016.

For a complete list of royal homecomings, see here.

Have you seen a member of our Royal Family during a Canadian homecoming? If not, did you follow a Canadian Royal event on television or in the social media?