The Sovereign Opens Canada's Parliament in 1957

From a report from the Apostolic Delegate in Canada, Archbishop Giovanni Panico, sent to both Sections of the Papal Secretariat of State:

Ottawa, 16 October 1957

This morning, after a four-day stay in Ottawa, the Queen of England [Great Britain] and Canada, Elizabeth II, left for the United States.

She arrived in this capital on the afternoon of 12 October, coming directly from London, for the purpose of opening the new Parliament.

For the occasion, Ottawa was dressed up for the occasion. A city of about 250,000 inhabitants, it hosted in recent days a huge number of visitors, coming from all the provinces of Canada, a number which, according to the pious exaggeration of journalists, amounted to over 200,000 people.

The visit was particularly important because it was the first trip that Elizabeth II made here as Queen (when she came in 1951 she was still Princess) and also because, in the history of Canada, it was the first time that the Sovereign opened Parliament in person.

The evening after her arrival she spoke on television in English and French. His words were much appreciated and the French Canadians were happy with what he said to them in particular, recalling the visit made in 1951 to the Province of Quebec: 

“The souvenir of the trip that I made to the Province of Quebec, a few years ago, obliges me to say again with her: “Je Me Souviens.”

Je me souviens (I will remember) not only the charm of its care, the beauty of its ancient heritage, but I also remember that other things here are eternal. Because I know your love for this Canadian land where your ancestors rest. I also know that you are passionate about your ancestral Faith and your mother tongue. In uniting your efforts faithfully with your fellow citizens, you have helped Canada to play a role in the world that will never cease to grow.”

The next day, October 14, the opening of the Houses of Parliament took place in a very official ceremony, to which I was invited.

The Speech from the Throne laid out the program of the new Conservative Government of Mr. Diefenbaker, who had come to power after the elections of June 10 last.

Towards the end of the address, the Queen quoted some words of Elizabeth I, pronounced at the opening of the last Parliament of her life: “Though God hath raised me High, yet this I count the Glory of my Crown, that I have reigned with your loves.” Some have observed that the reference was not a felicitous one nor historically accurate, because Elizabeth I – a staunch Protestant – had used all means to destroy the Catholic elements of her Parliament.

In the evening of the same day, an “official lunch” was offered at the Governor’ [General]'s House, followed by a large reception.

During this reception, while some privileged people among the 1,500 present were being presented to the Queen, the Governor General, Mr. Vincent Massey, introduced me to the Sovereign, despite the large number of personalities who were waiting in vain for their turn. I was able to speak for over five minutes with her and the Prince Consort and our conversation was interrupted by the national anthem of Canada and Great Britain. Immediately afterwards, the Queen withdrew from the great hall, where she had remained for only half an hour. [...]