Since the 17th century, four Sovereigns have reigned over Canada for more than half a century: They were Louis XIV of France for 72 years (1643-1715), George III of Great Britain for 60years (1760-1820), his grand-daughter Victoria for 64 years (1837-1901) and her great-great granddaughter Elizabeth II for 70 years (1952-2022). Before her Coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II assumed the separate title "Queen of Canada" by Act of her Canadian Parliament. This new royal style and title was proclaimed at Ottawa 29 May 1953.
The Royal Standard is the official flag of His Majesty The King in his capacity as Sovereign of Canada. The Royal Standard above is for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and will change for HM King Charles III.
The flag is split into four quadrants. The first quadrant represents England and contains three gold lions passant on a red field; the second quadrant represents Scotland and contains a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold harp of Ireland on a blue field; the fourth quadrant represents France and has three fleurs de lis on a blue field. The lower third of the flag contains red maple leaves of Canada on a white field.
A blue disc containing the crowned letter 'E' (for 'Elizabeth'), encircled by a wreath of gold roses, is superimposed over the coat of arms.
Canadians have lived with royalty ever since Henry IV, King of France, commissioned Pierre Du Gus de Monts as his viceroy and lieutenant-general in Acadie (or Acadia), the name given in the 16th century to lands now forming New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and parts of Quebec and Maine. This was in 1604. The treaty of 1763 saw a changeover from a French monarch to a British monarch.
The question is sometimes raised today why French Canada should feel any loyalty to a British sovereign. One must remember that our monarch, King Charles III, is a direct descendant of Louis IX of France. He in turn was also the ancestor of Henry IV, the sovereign who first claimed Acadie. It must be remembered also, that the majority of French Canadians in Lower Canada (Quebec) voted for the confederation of 1867. Quebec has been the keystone for most of the majority governments in Ottawa and has given several prime ministers to head federal regimes.
King Charles III is King of Canada, monarch of all Canadians, and he is King by the will of the people.
King Charles III, the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Buckingham Palace at 9:14pm on 14th November, 1948.
On Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne, Prince Charles - as the Sovereign's eldest son - became at the age of three, heir apparent.
In 1958, The Queen created him The Prince of Wales, and he was invested as Prince of Wales by The Queen on 1st July 1969 in a colourful ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in Wales.The Prince and Princess of Wales had two sons, Prince William who was born on 21st June, 1982, and Prince Harry was born on 15th September, 1984.
On 9th December, 1992, the Prime Minister, John Major, announced to the House of Commons that The Prince and Princess of Wales had agreed to separate. The marriage was dissolved on 28th August, 1996. The Princess was still regarded as a member of the Royal Family. She continued to live at Kensington Palace and to carry out her public work for a number of charities. The Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31st August, 1997. The Princess lay in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace until the night before the funeral.
On 9th April 2005, The Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles were married in a civil ceremony at the Guildhall,Windsor. She was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on 17th July 1947 at King's College Hospital, London, the eldest of three children. After the wedding, Camilla became known as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
Wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
April 9, 2005
The Duke and Duchess had three children; Prince George Alexander Louis born July 22, 2013, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana born May 2, 2015 and Prince Louis Arthur Charles born April 23, 2018.
On the King's accession to the throne, Prince William - as the Sovereign's eldest son - became at the age of forty, heir apparent, at which time the King created him The Prince of Wales.
The flag of the Prince of Wales bears a blue roundel within a wreath of golden maple leaves for Canada. The centre features the badge commonly known as the Prince of Wales’ feathers used by the heir apparent to the reigning monarch. Near the top of the flag is the traditional heraldic mark of an eldest male child, the three-point white label.
Note that where the Governor General is in attendance, as the representative of the Queen of Canada, the Vice Regal Standard has precedence over the standard of The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge.