Some residents have recalled the times when they saw Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II in Moose Jaw or during the other tours that the royal couple took of the province.
Prince Philip, who died at age 99 on April 9, was married to the Queen for 73 years and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history. He made eight trips to Saskatchewan over eight decades, either by himself or with his wife.
“I remember Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth driving through Crescent Park in an open car,” remembered Bernice Panko. “We were held back as there were lots of people (15,000). They went to a church service at St. John’s (Anglican) — now known as St. Aidan’s — and you needed a special invitation to attend the service.”
Florence Huttala recalled being excited to go to Crescent Park, where she and some friends attempted to get as close as possible to the royal couple.
“They (looked) so natural and are lovely people. I am Scottish, so I believe in royalty,” Huttala added. “I also (saw) Prince Philip when he came (by himself), but there wasn’t as many people.”
John Howard recalled the excitement of when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured the downtown area.
“They drove down Main Street and there were piles of people,” he said.
Several residents remembered the royal couple visiting the Tuxford-area farm of Carl Wells during a tour in 1959.
“The couple had a very lovely farm and garden. The couple who had the farm was very interested in the monarchy,” said Mona Boyle.
The royal couple toured Moose Jaw on several occasions. The Moose Jaw Public Library’s archives department has several photos and news articles that record when the couple came to The Friendly City.
Wells told the Times-Herald in 1977 that he had been chosen because he had earlier entertained the parents whose children were training at the airbase. Wells said the parents were well-known officials in NATO who had come to the base from all over the world.
The Wells family spent more than a week preparing their home, maintaining the yard, polishing the floors and cleaning out the barn. Wells remembered told the newspaper that two Scotland Yard members went over his house “with a fine-toothed comb” with assistance from the RCMP.
“Mr. Wells said security was very tight,” the article added.
Queen Elizabeth II is Canada’s head of state and is this country’s longest-reigning monarch at 69 years.
