Local History & Genealogy

King Charles III was crowned on May 6, 2023 at the age of 74. As a constitutional monarchy, Canada recognized this historic date — the first coronation in 70 years for Commonwealth nations. In an earlier blog post, we highlighted six rarities from our archives that document past coronation celebrations in Canada. 

In this post, we'll look back at photographs of Charles III's tours to Canada in the 1970s. At the time, he was a prince in his 20s and early 30s. The Prince of Wales visited Canada in 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1979. This decade's trips predate Charles's popular visits to Canada alongside Princess Diana. All of the photos below are part of the Toronto Star Photograph Archive and are available on Digital Archive Ontario. 

1970

Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne accompanied their parents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to North America in 1970. Their father was still recuperating from an arm injury received while playing polo. 

Prince Charles (rear) and family disembark from an Air Canada flight, 1970. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Prince Charles speaks to quarterback Ron Lancaster after watching the second half of a Canadian football game. Ottawa, Ontario, 1970. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

With an aid's help, Prince Charles signs the guest register at Fort Prince of Wales. Manitoba, 1970. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Prince Charles talks to Chief Joe Saddle Boy and his son Gerry at McNiven Beach in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 1970. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

1976

In 1976, Prince Charles went back to Canada with brothers Princes Andrew and Edward, and his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Charles, now 28, was waiting for another Royal Navy assignment. According to biographer Sally Bedell Smith, this trip was a respite for the prince. In the Northwest Territories, he enjoyed snowmobiling, riding on a dogsled and eating raw seal meat. He even dove in scuba gear under the ice in Resolute Bay.

Princes Andrew (left), Charles (centre) and Edward (right) on royal yacht Britannia, 1976. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Princes and the Queen, 1976. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

The king-in-waiting seen behind his mother. The Queen went to Olympic equestrian competitions in Bromont, Quebec, 1976. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

1979

At age 31, Prince Charles visited Canada for the fifth time. This was the first time visiting without his parents. During the week-long tour, the prince visited Manitoba, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Ontario.

Prince Charles holds a pot presented by women at Victoria Airport in British Columbia, 1979. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

On the second day of his tour, Prince Charles tries out a rescue boat built by students of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. Victoria, British Columbia, 1979. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Prince Charles observes the Royal Regiment of Canada after arriving in Toronto, Ontario, 1979. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Prince of Wales in Toronto, 1979. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Dressed as an honourary Colonel-in-Chief, Charles poses with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Pauline McGibbon. Royal York Hotel, Toronto, 1979.  View on Digital Archive Ontario.

As he left the reception with the Royal Regiment of Canada in the Royal York Hotel, Charles met a group of secretaries there for a professional convention. 1979. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Explore more from Digital Archive Ontario

We've digitized hundreds of photos of the Prince of Wales and other British royalty. Explore them on Digital Archive Ontario or in our blog posts.

Images

• All photographs related to Charles III

Blog posts

• Coronation Celebrations in Canada: Six Rarities from Our Archives
• Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022): Photographs from Our Collections
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021): Photographs from Our Collections
• Royal Tour Across Canada in May, 1939