Stephen Harper will be the first Canadian prime minister to formally address the British Parliament since the Second World War when he speaks Thursday in London.
Harper will speak to MPs and members of the House of Lords in the Queen's Robing Room at the Palace of Westminster. The room is normally set aside for the monarch to don regalia and prepare for the opening of Parliament.
William Lyon Mackenzie King spoke on May 11, 1944 in Westminster's Royal Gallery -- less than four weeks before D-Day.
Library and Archives Canada / C-068673
King wrote in his diary that "I was given a fine reception when I stepped forward to speak. There were very bright lights trained on the platform but I did not find them too inconvenient."
"I did not attempt to speak extemporary but followed the manuscript in a straightforward way."
"When I was through speaking, the applause lasted for a considerable time."
Afterwards, King walked with British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and his wife and looked at damage caused by German bombers to the House of Commons chamber.
"On the way, he said to me that the speech was very good, very good indeed."
The G8 leaders' summit in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland takes place next week. Harper is also visiting Paris and Dublin.
-Andrew Thomson
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