Government House

Heraldry Traditions

Traditionally, upon return from battle, knights would hang their coats of arms in their dining halls. These shields were designed to symbolize the unique identity and interests of their owner. Since 1876, this tradition has continued at Government House with the creation of coats of arms for members of the Royal Family and Governors General.

In 2002, Lawrence Patten, a branch director of the BC/Yukon Heraldry Society, expertly restored each of the existing shields and continues to create new shields for each new Royal and Vice-Regal guest. Each coat of arms is created for the date of the honouree’s first overnight visit to Government House. The shields are displayed in the House thereafter, honouring the visitor after their departure.

In keeping with tradition, the shields were originally displayed in the Main Dining Room. However, when the shields became too numerous for the space, they were moved to the wall beneath the Rogers Window and along the walls of the main staircase. The Rogers Window depicts the heraldry of British Columbia as well as the previous Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia. Together, the refurbished coats of arms and the Rogers Window honour the heraldic traditions and the regal history of British Columbia.

Royal Visitors to Government House
British Columbia

Coat of Arms	Visitor	Date of First Visit
	Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York	1901
	His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales	1919
	His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester	1929
	His Royal Highness Prince George	1929
	His Majesty King George VI	1939
	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth	1939
	Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth	1951
	His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh	1951
	Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal	1955
	Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret	1958
	Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra	1959
	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II	1959
	His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew	1977
	His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales	1986
	Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales	1986
	His Royal Highness The Prince Edward	1994
	His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent	2002
	Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex	2006

Vice-Regal Visitors to Government House
British Columbia

Coat of Arms	Visitor	Date of First Visit
	The Earl of Dufferin	1876
	The Marquess of Lorne	1882
	The Marquess of Lansdowne	1885
	Lord Stanley	1889
	The Earl of Aberdeen	1894
	The Earl of Minto	1900
	Earl Gray	1906
	His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn	1912
	The Duke of Devonshire	1920
	Lord Byng	1922
	The Viscount of Willingdon	1927
	The Earl of Bessborough	1932
	Lord Tweedsmuir	1936
	The Earl of Athlone	1941
	The Viscount Alexander	1946
	The Right Honourable Vincent Massey	1958
	Major-General The Right Honourable Georges P. Vanier	1960
	The Right Honourable Roland Michener	1968
	The Right Honourable Jules Léger	1970
	The Right Honourable Edward R Schreyer	1979
	The Right Honourable Jeanna Sauvé	1984
	The Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn	1992
	The Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc	1997
	The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson	2000
	The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean	2006