Queen Elizabeth II

4,000 turned out in seven degree weather and "gale force" winds to welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip to Fort St. John in May 1971

The Queen's visits were "such a big deal" to legions of New West residents through the decades.

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada and the Commonwealth, ascended the throne as much by a twist of fate as by the grace of God.

MONTREAL — As he stood between wind-whipped Canadian flags on a podium in Iqaluit in 2017, Prince Charles recalled his official first visit to Canada's North nearly half a century earlier.

It was a classic and comforting sight on the British sporting calendar, Queen Elizabeth II smiling and waving from inside a horse-drawn carriage leading other members of the royal family in a procession along the racetrack at Royal Ascot.

The Queen dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff in 2002 between Markus Naslund and Mike Ricci, who took the place of the absent Owen Nolan.

Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne in 1952 at the age of 25 after her father's death. Her son, Charles, is now King Charles III.

As the world mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Richmond News looks back on the day Her Majesty cut the ribbon at The Tube in 1959.

OTTAWA — Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant presence in Canadians' lives. Her face is engraved on our coins. It graces the $20 bill and is featured on some of our stamps. Even buildings, parks, mountains and islands bear her name.

1971.