Book commemorates Royals in Canada

She confesses she’s not what one would call a royalist or Royal watcher. It’s the process of compiling and writing a book like A Royal Couple in Canada that got Alison Lawlor interested in the project. When her publisher at Boulder Publications optioned the topic to the local freelance writer, this five-time non-fiction book writer happily accepted.

“The idea of showcasing the Queen, the Royal couple, and trying to tie it into Canada 150 made for good timing for publishing,” said Lawlor about taking on the process. Since Queen Elizabeth continues to hold her title as as longest reigning monarch, Lawlor noted it was an elegant way of capturing how she, and Prince Philip, have essentially been on hand to see the country grow up.

“At first it was overwhelming as there is so much written about her and so many photos, so the question was how were we going to put them together.”

From her first visit to the country in 1951 as a princess to her last visit earlier this century, it was decided that the keepsake book of photographs and stories would be divided by decades. Lawlor, who spent more than a year collecting and researching photos and stories from the 22 tours of Canada, couldn’t help but come across some truly Royal moments that not only highlighted the Queen’s love for our country, but the love Canadians have for our Queen.

“There’s a photo of the Queen and some woman in 1984 in Shediac, N.B. and this woman was 102-years-old at the time and she said that aside from her wedding day, it was the happiest day of her life — presenting a bouquet to the Queen,” she said. “That really shows a lot of what the Queen brought out in communities.”

Of course there can’t be a photography book about the Queen without making mention of her famed fashion and strict greeting protocol.

“I loved collecting archival materials describing the very particular protocols of what women should wear when greeting the Queen and how they should address her,” Lawlor continued. No doubt the fashion changed throughout the decades but mentions of lengths of hemlines and clothes cuts for women remained the same.

The commemorative book, which launched August 19 in Annapolis Royal, comes to the Halifax Central Library October 7.

“It’s really important to have something like this to commemorate them — it’s a snapshot of their time here and their service to the country,” said Lawlor.

“Regardless of your belief in the monarchy, you can’t deny that she’s been a real example of public service.”