Royal Visitors & Vice Regal Visitors

It is the lieutenant governor's privilege to act as host to members of the Royal family, visiting heads of state and other dignitaries. Here are but a few of the notable visits. For the past two centuries, our lieutenant governors have opened the doors to this gracious mansion - spreading warmth and hospitality on behalf of all Nova Scotians.

• In 1860 crowds of school children cheered as Edward, Prince of Wales made his procession to Government House.
• Prince Arthur first visited Halifax in 1869.
• Nine years later, in 1878, Princess Louise and her husband, the Marquis of Lorne, arrived at Halifax where he was sworn in at Province House as Governor General of Canada before heading on to Ottawa.
• Edward's son, Prince George, later King George V, visited while serving with the North Atlantic fleet in 1883. In 1901, he returned with his wife, Mary, Duchess of York, who became the much-loved Queen Mary.
• Their son, Prince Albert visited Halifax in 1913 and then again as reining monarch, King George VI in 1939 with his wife Queen Elizabeth. After his death in 1952, she received the title Queen Mother and her visits to Halifax include July 1967 - the centennial year - and 1979 for the opening of the first Nova Scotia Tattoo.
• Before ascending the throne, Queen Elizabeth II visited Halifax for the first time in 1951, as princess, with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. She returned in 1959, 1976 and 1994.
• Her sister, Princess Margaret was a guest in 1958 and 1988.
• Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, visited Government House in 1983.
• Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, officially opened the Tattoo in June 1985 and 1987, respectively.
• In 1995, Canada hosted the G-7 Economic Summit in Halifax and Government House became the temporary residence of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. All nine heads of state, including President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister John Major and President Boris Yeltsin visited Government House at the invitation of the Prime Minister.