With the Duchess of Cambridge giving birth to an heir to Canada’s crown, here’s how the House of Commons reacted to previous royal deliveries in 1894, 1948, and 1982:
EDWARD VIII * PRINCE CHARLES * PRINCE WILLIAM
►EDWARD VIII
Prince Edward of York, great-grandson of Queen Victoria and third in line to the throne, was born on June 23, 1894. He would become Edward VIII and famously abdicate the crown in 1936 after opposition from Commonwealth governments (including Canada) to his planned marriage to American divorcée Wallis Simpson.
July 11, 1894
Long-time Liberal MP Sir Richard Cartwright wonders why the government has yet to issue formal congratulations to Queen Victoria. Cartwright and Prime Minister Sir John Thompson spar over trade policy as part of their debate:
BIRTH OF AN HEIR-APPARENT
Sir Richard Cartwright (Oxford South, Ont.): Before the Orders of the Day are called, I would like to say a word or two on a subject which may perhaps be of some interest to members of the House. I have not observed that the Government have moved the House to congratulate her Majesty in any way on a certain recent interesting and auspicious event. Now we are all aware that the Government of late have been very busy indeed. One section of the Government have been employed in celebrating what I may call the victory of the Lord High Commissioner over certain malapert ministers who have been taught their places at long last. Another section have been equally busy in devising the 121st amendment or thereabouts to a tariff which seems specially designed to promote a united Empire, by making it as difficult as possible for Canadian consumers to use British manufactured goods; and yet a third section have been engaged in the most useful and sanitary operation of whitewashing themselves and their colleagues, somewhat after the fashion of the renowned W.M. Tweed, and it is to be hoped that the ultimate results will not greatly differ from those which attended the operations of that gentleman. But those gentlemen are now reasonably at leisure. They have eaten their leek, they have applied their whitewash, and they have put up every conceivable bolt and bar against the British goods.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Charlton: I move the adjournment of the House.
Sir Richard Cartwright: And I think, if I may be permitted to continue my remarks, that they may now find time possibly, and I am sure in so doing they will meet the wishes of both sides of the House, to offer our congratulations to Her Majesty on an event, which, both as a sovereign and a woman, must have given very great pleasure to that illustrious lady. It may possible be the case that the Premier can find no precedent for an address in a case of this sort. I believe myself that the circumstances are absolutely unprecedented in British history, and for that matter, so far as I know, in almost any other history. It is a most rare event that a reigning sovereign should have the pleasure of seeing no less than three direct heirs in descent to the thrown (sic) in her own lifetime. I think, under the circumstances, it might be very well that Ministers should move to take some official notice of the event, as, if I am not misinformed, it has been done by one or two other colonial Legislatures in session; and if they do not see their way to do so, although it is of course reasonable that they should have the opportunity of taking the initiative, I dare say Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition might be able to relieve them on this occasion.
Sir John Thompson (Prime Minister, Minister of Justice): On the motion for the adjournment of the House, I congratulate the hon. Gentleman, the member for South Oxford (Sir Richard Cartwight), on having begun to recollect, after many years of forgetfulness, that he is a British subject, and owes a duty to his sovereign and to the institutions of his country. The observations which the hon. gentleman has made introductory to the subject of a congratulatory address to the Her Majesty, are like a great many observations which he addresses to thee House, when he is in a particularly unpleasant mood, as he is after the long sitting last night and his unpleasant experience of this morning. No member of the Cabinet has been engaged in celebrating a victory of the High Commissioner over any of his colleagues, nor has any victory taken place. That is the first answer which I have to give to the hon. gentleman’s question. In the next place, no amendment has been devised to the tariff, much less would there be a particle of truth in saying that we have devised the 121st amendment for the purpose of excluding British goods from this country. In the third place, instead of being engaged in whitewashing any of their colleagues, the members of the House who have been connected with the investigation to which the hon. gentleman’s polite allusion is evidently made, have simply been engaged in seeing that justice is done, in their opinion, to a member of this House, instead of the blackwashing process which the hon. gentleman desires to see applied, not in the interest in justice, but in the interest of low party intrigue.
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July 21, 1894
BIRTH OF AN HEIR-APPARENT
Sir John Thompson: I beg to move, seconded by Mr. Laurier, that this House do concur in the Address from the Senate to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, to tender to Her Majesty their cordial congratulations upon the birth of a son to His Royal Highness the Duke of York and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York. The following is the Address:--
TO HIS EXCELLENCY the Right Honourable Sir JOHN CAMPBELL HAMILTON-GORDON, Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Formartine, Baron Haddo, MEthlic, Tarves and Kellie, in the Peerage of Scotland, Viscount Gordon of Aberdeen, County of Aberdeen, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Governor General of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:--
We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Canada in Parliament assembles, have resolved to send congratulations to Their Royal highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York upon the joyful occasion of the birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses.
We beg leave to approach Your Excellency with our respectful request that you will be pleased to transmit the said message to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York in such way as Your Excellency may see fit.
July 23, 1894
With Parliament about to prorogue, the House of Commons and Senate prepare to send a joint statement via Governor General The Earl of Aberdeen:
BIRTH OF AN HEIR APPARENT
Mr. Speaker (Peter White): I have the honour to inform the House that I have received a message from the Senate, acquainting this House that they have agreed to the Address of this House to His Excellency the Governor General, praying that His Excellency will be pleased to transmit the Joint Address of both Houses to Her Gracious Majesty the Queen, of congratulation upon the birth of a son to His Royal Highness the Duke, and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, in such manner as His Excellency may see fit, in order that the same may be laid at the foot of the Throne, by filling up the blank with the words “Senate and.”
►PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES
Prince Charles, the current Prince of Wales and next in line to the throne, was born on November 14, 1948. Parliament had risen in June as W.L. Mackenzie King turned over the prime minister’s office and Liberal leadership to Louis St. Laurent. January 1949 was the first chance to discuss the new arrival.
January 26, 1949
Governor General The Viscount Alexander closed his Speech from the Throne with the following:
Honourable members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
The birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh has been the occasion of widespread rejoicing. Happiness over the birth of the Royal Prince has been tempered by regret over the indisposition of His Majesty the King. The people of Canada hope and pray for the complete recovery of the King’s health.
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January 27, 1949
Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne
Donald F. Brown (Essex West, Ont.): The British commonwealth of nations for many years has looked, hopefully and expectantly, for word of an heir to the throne. On November 14, 1948, this long awaited promise was fulfilled in the birth of “wee Bonnie Prince Charlie” to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. To the parents of the baby, christened Charles Philip Arthur George of Edinburgh, we extend our sincere congratulations. To the baby, all Canada extends its hope and prayer for a lifetime of health for himself, happiness with his family, and success in his relationship with his loyal subjects.
Léopold Demers (Laval—Two Mountains, Que.), a newly-elected Liberal MP, also spoke:
The long awaited news of a royal birth, that of Prince Charles of Edinburgh, over which the whole Christian world rejoiced, came last November.
Reverence for the great family that has ruled the British people for many long years with such dignity filled the hearts of all who are devoted to the family tradition. We cannot cease to marvel that the royal family boasts four living generations in this, the twentieth century, when so many thrones, unsteadied by the troublesome events of our day, have toppled over.
It seems that the Almighty has preserved to this throne the power with which it was endowed from above because those who exercise it know their duty as sovereigns and carry it out worthily.
To Their Majesties the King and Queen, to their children, to the newborn Prince, health and long life.
►PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
Prince William, the first child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, was born on June 21, 1982 as third in line to the throne.
June 21, 1982
MPs debate a motion from Opposition Leader Joe Clark on “immediate action to lower interest rates, stimulate production, investment and jobs, strengthen the dollar and lower the rate of inflation.” However, MPs found time to prepare a message of congratulations:
THE ROYAL FAMILY
MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS ON BIRTH OF SON TO PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES
Hon. Allen J. MacEachen (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask for the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion. It will be evident from the contents of it that it will be appropriate to do so.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is their unanimous consent for the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. MacEachen) to move a motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Mr. MacEachen: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Member for Victoria (Mr. McKinnon):
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to offer the congratulations of this House on the birth of a Prince, a son to Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and assuring Her Majesty that this happy event affords the greatest joy and satisfaction to Her faithful Members of the House of Commons.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the said motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. MacEachen: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. Member for Victoria (Mr. McKinnon):
That a message be sent to the Senate informing Their Honours that this House has passed an Address to Her Most Excellent Majesty the Queen, expressing congratulations on the occasion of the birth of a Prince, son of Their Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and requesting Their Honours to unite with this House in the said Address.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the said motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Motion agreed to.
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June 22, 1982
THE ROYAL FAMILY
MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS ON BIRTH OF SON TO PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES
Madam Speaker (Jeanne Sauvé): I have the honour to inform the House that a message has been received informing the House that the Senate has agreed to an address to Her Most Excellent Majesty the Queen expressing congratulations on the occasion of the birth of a Prince, son of Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and have filled up the blank spaces left therein with the words “Senate and”.
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
ADDRESS RESPECTING CONGRATULATIONS ON BIRTH OF SON TO PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES
Madam Speaker: I have the Honour to inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate, as follows:
Petitions
Resolved, That the following address be engrossed and presented to His Excellency the Governor General, namely:
To His Excellency the Right Honourable Edward Richard Schreyer, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit upon whom has been conferred the Canadian Forces’ Decoration, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada:
May it please Your Excellency
The Senate ... of Canada, in Parliament assembled, have agreed to an address to Her Most Excellent Majesty the Queen expressing congratulations on the occasion of the birth of a Prince, son of Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and respectfully request that your Excellency will be pleased to transmit the said Address to Her Majesty the Queen.
Hon. Yvon Picard (President of the Privy Council): Madam Speaker, with the unanimous consent of the House, I move, seconded by the hon. Member for Yukon (Mr. Nielsen):
That this House do concur in the address of the Senate to His Excellency the Governor General, respectfully requesting that His Excellency may be pleased to transmit the joint address to Her Most Excellent Majesty the Queen;
That the words “and House of Commons” be inserted in the said address from the Senate; and
That a message be sent to the Senate informing Their Honours that this House doth unite with the Senate in the said address.
Madam Speaker: Does the hon. President of the Privy Council (Mr. Pinard) have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Motion agreed to.
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July 6, 1982
Two weeks later, Progressive Conservative MP Gus Mitges raised the question of whether the Canadian government was outsourcing an official gift to celebrate William’s birth:
S.O. 43
THE ROYAL FAMILY
COMMISSIONING OF GIFT TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF PRINCE WILLIAM – MOTION UNDER S.O. 43
Mr. Gus Mitges (Grey—Simcoe, Ont.): Madam Speaker, according to a recent media report, as Canada’s official gift to Britain on the birth of the Royal baby, Prince William, the Government of Canada commissioned a distinctly Canadian gift, a sculpture of an Indian woman noted for her devotion to motherhood. However, for unknown reasons, this gift was commissioned not from a Canadian artist but one from Trenton, New Jersey, in the United States. Therefore I move, seconded by the hon. Member for Simcoe North (Mr. Lewis):
That the government make sure that preference is given to Canadian talent and Canadian expertise when said decisions are made in the future.
Madam Speaker: Is their unanimous consent for this motion?
Some hon. Members: Agreed.
Some hon. Members: No.
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October 28, 1982
A clear answer appeared to come that autumn, courtesy of an order paper question by Howard Crosby, a Nova Scotia Tory:
Order Paper Questions
GIFT FROM CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES
Question No. 4,409 – Howard Crosby (Halifax West, N.S.)
- Did the Government or any official of the government, purchase a porcelain sculpture called “Sacajawea”, created by Cybis Studio of Trenton, New Jersey and, if so (a) from whom (b) at what cost?
- Was the sculpture given to the Prince and Princess of Wales as Canada’s official gift commemorating the birth of their child?
- What is the connection between the sculpture and Canada or any person or place within Canada?
- Did the Government not provide a gift that had some real connection with Canada and that would benefit Canadian artists or craftsmen and the Canadian arts and crafts industry and, if not, for what reason?
Hon Serge Joyal (Secretary of State):
- No.
- No.
- The sculpture in question was given to Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales by the Province of Manitoba to commemorate the birth of their son.
- The Government of Canada did not provide an official gift on behalf of the Canadian people to commorate (sic) the birth of the son of the Prince and Princess of Wales because it is Canadian custom that official gifts are not given on behalf of the Canadian people to mark such events.
(Source: House of Commons Debates)
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