Queen Elizabeth II, walking with former B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, smiles as she is greeted by thousands of people at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver on Oct. 7, 2002.CHUCK STOODY/The Canadian Press
Gordon Campbell is a former premier of British Columbia and was Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2016.
My first face-to-face meeting with the Queen was in 1987. At the time, I was mayor of Vancouver and the city was striving to get a provincial contribution to Science World as a legacy of Expo 86. Our requests were not being met with much enthusiasm.
I suggested we invite the Queen to come to open Science World. She came with Prince Philip. Provincial elected officials were invited. We got the contribution.
For her Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Queen visited us in Victoria and again in Vancouver. I was beside her as she walked the lines of admirers, first at the legislature and then again on the University of British Columbia campus.
Two incidents stick out for me from that event. The first was in Victoria, where a man reached out with a letter feeling sure the Queen would remember it. It was dated 25 years earlier.
In visits to Canada, Queen Elizabeth left her mark as British history’s most travelled monarch
At UBC, an elderly woman reached out with a tiny gold object in her open hand.
“Your Majesty, do you recognize this?” the woman asked. She raised the object so the Queen could see it. “Take it.”
The Queen took it from the woman, examined it and said, ”No, no I don’t.”
“It’s a replica of your coronation carriage!” explained the woman.
“Oh,” the Queen responded. “Do you want me to keep it?”
“No,” the woman said. “That’s my carriage!”
“Of course,” the Queen replied, as she handed it back.
For the Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit to British Columbia, I wanted to present her with events that were Canadian. We suggested an exhibition NHL hockey game between the San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks. She had not been to a hockey game for 50 years. At first, there was some reticence about the event. Then we explained that Wayne Gretzky had agreed to be there. A different kind of royalty, but the game was on.
As the royal party arranged themselves in what was literally a Royal Box, I escorted the Queen to ice level. As the public address announced the Queen and her hockey honour guard – Mr. Gretzky and members of Canada’s 2002 Olympic gold-medal-winning team – Prince Philip asked in a voice much louder than a whisper: “Who is this Wayne Gretzky?”
Over time, I had quite a few two-minute conversations with the Queen, in receiving lines, diplomatic balls, the garden party, receptions and state dinners. In 2011, when she received me as Canada’s high commissioner, we talked for 20 minutes about the state of things in Canada. In my experience, she was always curious and interested.
The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the High Commissioner Gordon Campbell and John Baird, Canada's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, look at the view of London from Canada House on Trafalgar Square on Feb. 19, 2015.Charla Jones/The Globe and Mail
In 2015, the Queen opened a renovated Canada House. On the main floor, a beautiful large painting by Gordon Smith welcomes visitors. Gordon did the painting just for Canada House and had flown to London for the opening. The Queen and Prince Philip were incredulous that he could paint such a large piece from his wheelchair.
Close to the end of my stay in the United Kingdom, I was invited to have dinner with the Royal Family and stay overnight at Windsor Castle.
Usually at these events, there is a plan of the table with your name next to your chair. I looked at the plan and could not see my name.
I inquired with the butler whether he knew where I was sitting.
“Who are you?” he asked. Not an auspicious beginning.
“Canada’s high commissioner,” I replied.
“Oh,” he said. “You will be sitting next to Her Majesty.”
The Queen always had a soft spot for Canada.
A notice announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth is placed on th railings outside of Buckingham Palace in London.DANIEL LEAL/AFP/Getty Images
1 of 13
I had a great conversation with the Queen. As we sat talking, I remembered my grandmother’s advice to never pick up your bread to butter it. “If you are ever having dinner with the Queen, you must leave the bread on the plate!” my grandmother directed.
I never imagined that I would have to pay attention to that detail. But that night at dinner, my grandmother was with me. If the Queen noticed, she graciously didn’t say anything.
As it approached 10 p.m., the Queen asked whether I would accompany her to the archives.
There, she pointed out the display at the end of the first aisle: the red 2010 Olympics gloves and Canada’s Olympic hockey jersey. To the left on the wall was the Magna Carta.
Her Majesty directed me to another table. There was a very early map designating Vancouver, with the designation of Point Grey, where I had been an MLA.
Also laid on the table was the letter that Queen Victoria had signed crossing out two alternatives and naming British Columbia.
I turned to the Queen and said, “This is incredible!”
She smiled at me and, with her eyes laughing, replied: “Not that incredible. It’s why I have an archivist.”
As I remember her, I remember her warmth, her sparkle, her questions, but I also think of what an incredible gift she gave us all. She gave us the gift of her life, of her commitment to others, of her dedication to millions around the world. She gave us the gift of her example. May she rest now, knowing that her life is inspirational.
During her 70-year reign, the Queen made 22 official visits to Canada. Here are are a few of those trips including her last one in 2010 where she said in a speech, 'It is very good to be home.'
The Globe and Mail
Keep your Opinions sharp and informed. Get the Opinion newsletter. Sign up today.