Princess Anne to visit Victoria in early May

Almost one year after her last Canadian visit, Princess Anne is set to visit Victoria in early May.

The Royal Family’s itinerary notes that Princess Anne, known as the Princess Royal, “will visit Canada” from May 3 to 5.

Simon Gonsalves, public affairs officer with the Canadian Armed forces, confirmed to CHEK News the Canadian Fleet Pacific will host a visit from Princess Anne between May 3 and 5.

“More programme details will be forthcoming in the foreseeable future,” Gonsalves said in an email to CHEK News.

Ken Lane, treasurer of the Victoria branch of the Monarchist League of Canada, says before the pandemic there were rumours that the princess would visit Victoria, then it all fell apart due to COVID-19.

“This is a repetition of plans that were made perhaps four or five years ago,” Lane told CHEK News.

“It’s all rumour, I suppose at this point, the only thing we know for certain because the president of the Monarchist League this year is a retired military officer who now works with the Naval archives and they have been advised that Princess Anne will be coming for a visit to the Naval archives, so they’re busy dusting off the shelves there right now.”

Anne is the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association says Princess Anne and her husband Tim Laurence are set to visit them on May 5.

VTRA board chair Annie Brothwell says she is excited to show the princess the work the organization is doing.

“I see the smiles, the joy, the calm within the riders and their families and I just want to be able to share this with the world,” Brothwell said in a news release.

“Her Royal Highness is a keen and successful equestrian, and she understands the connection between the rider and the horse.”

The princess’ most recent visits to Canada were May 19 to 21, 2023 and June 3 and 4, 2023.

In May she visited New Brunswick, where she met with provincial politicians, attended a reception for the 150th anniversary of the RCMP, visited Vitalité Health Network’s Veterans’ Health Centre, celebrated the 175th anniversary of the 8th Canadian Hussars, and visited the Regimental Museum and Sussex (Milton Gregg) Armouries.

Then in June, she travelled to Banff for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences.

This is the princess’ second visit to Vancouver Island, according to the B.C. government’s Royal Tour Timeline.

The last time she visited the Island was in 1971, between May 3 to 12 where she visited Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino and Comox. On that visit, she attended other B.C. cities including Vancouver, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Prince Rupert and Williams Lake.

Her only other trip to B.C. was in 2010 when she attended the 2010 Olympic Winter Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

RELATED: A look back at the Queen’s many visits to Vancouver Island

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