Print, photographic

In 1971, a historic home in Charlottetown that served as a resident for student nurses was gifted to the PEI Heritage Foundation by the federal government. Two years later, during PEI’s centennial celebrations in 1973, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived at Beaconsfield Historic House for its official opening.

This framed colour photograph candidly depicts Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with Father Francis Bolger, a well-known Island historian who sat on the board of the PEI Heritage Foundation, at the official opening morning of July 2. Prince Phillip can be seen on the right side of the Queen, and Catherine Hennessey, iconic heritage advocate and the Heritage Foundation’s first executive director, stands to the left of Father Bolger.

The Foundation put a lot of work into getting Beaconsfield ready for the visit. In a blog post from 2003, Hennessey recalled the “frightening” feeling of wondering how it would all come together. It did come together though, and the distinguished guests were “greeted as if it had been no work at all.” Today, Beaconsfield is one of the top places for tourists in Charlottetown to stop by and it hosts a vast array of concerts, lectures, and other special events in its Carriage House.