Throughout the Decades

 

British Royals visiting the United States is in its third century as a favorite story within the nation’s popular publications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Megan McKinney

 

Google would have  us believe that in 1860 eighteen-year-old Albert Edward, as Prince of Wales, was the first British Royal to visit the United States.

 

The future King Edward VII of England

 

If true, his grandson, Edward VIII, as Prince of Wales, more than made up for earlier family members previous lack of interest.

 

britishheritage.org

Above is the  Prince of Wales who reigned as King Edward VIII throughout most of 1936. During his carefree years as Prince this Edward frequently partied in Chicago and the North Shore.

 

chicagosun-times

Queen Elizabeth II with Illinois Governor William Stratton and Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley during a 1959 visit to the city.

 

 

chicagotribune.com

The Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sis Daley, wife of Chicago’s mayor, joined a receiving line during the 1959 visit. 

 

 

chicagotribne.com

King Charles III, as Prince of Wales in 1977.  He was photgraphed with then Mayor Michael A. Bilandic during a walk along LaSalle Street from Daley Center to the Board of Trade Building.

 

 

associatednewspapers

Prince Charles visited the Chicago area in 1977 and 1986. During both stays he played polo at the Oak Brook Polo Club west of the city.    

 

fanpop.com

Never was there a more popular British Royal visit to Chicago than that of Princess Diana’s three-day stay in June 1996. The purpose of the occasion  was to “raise money and awareness for the plight of cancer victims.” She succeeded in both. With Diana’s participation, more than $1 million was assembled in forty-six hours in Chicago and  London.  

 

meghanpedia.com

A large amount of the $ 1 million plus  was raised from the sale of 1,300 tickets to a gala at the Field Museum of Natural History, to which the Princess was escorted by Northwestern University President Henry Bienen, above. In honor of the university, the Princess wore a Versace gown in Northwestern purple, with matching Jimmy Choo shoes.

 

 

Credit: The Drake Hotel

The Drake has never missed an oppotunity for more publicity and the hotel has managed to stretch this one throughout several decades. For a price, hotel guests can spend two days in the suite in which the British Princess spent three.

 

They can even sleep in Princess Diana’s bedroom with windows looking out over Lake Michigan.

 

-Author Photo: Robert F. Carl