Three days of Royal splendour

September 8,1` 1860

In February 1860, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada announced that Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, 18 years of age, would represent his mother, Queen Victoria, in the first Royal Tour of Canada.

The final stop in Canada, before moving on to the United States, was to be Hamilton.

Having the heir to the throne visit Hamilton would have an overwhelming impact.

John A. Macdonald predicted “the visit would be a great and permanent advantage. It had called the attention of the world to the position and prospects of Canada. Our great resources, our magnificent country, would be considered, thought of, called to the attention of the whole civilized world in a manner we had never known before.” And that included the resources of Hamilton, Canada West.

At 5 p.m. on Sept. 18, 1860, the royal train pulled into the Great Western Railway Station on Stuart Street. Thousands of people watched Mayor Henry McKinstry present the welcoming address and hear the Prince reply.

The Prince passed along a parade route to Gore Park where a choir of schoolchildren sang “God Save the Queen” and a piece titled “Hurra! Hurra! All hail the Prince of Wales.” The Gore’s newly-built fountain was on full display.

The Prince then attended a concert by the Hamilton Philharmonic Society at the Mechanics’ Institute on James Street North and he stayed overnight at Arkledun, the home of Richard Juson on John Street South.

The next day, he visited Central Public School to receive an address by Rev. Egerton Ryerson.

A levee at the Royal Hotel on James Street North was followed by a private tour of the Agricultural Exhibition of Upper Canada on the Crystal Palace grounds.

After inaugurating the new waterworks, Prince Edward attended a grand ball held in his honour at the Royal Hotel.

To conclude his three-days in Hamilton, the Prince made a return trip to the exhibition to officially open the 15th annual exhibition of the Agricultural Society of Upper Canada.

After lunch at Dundurn Castle with Sir Allan MacNab, Prince Edward’s train departed, bound for Detroit.

The 14-year-old City of Hamilton was “en fete” for three days in September 1860 for the visit of the young Prince of Wales who was to become King Edward VII.