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Relation with Canada
Queen Elizabeth has made more than 22 official visits to Canada, which is more than she has made to any other Commonwealth country.
Her first visit was in 1951, while she was still Princess Elizabeth and just a few months before she ascended to the throne. She and her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh spent 33 days criss-crossing the country, visiting everywhere from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador. "I would like the Canadian people to know, that they have placed in our hearts a love for their country and their people which will never grow cold," she said at the time.
Her most recent visit was in 2010, when she and her husband visited Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Toronto. In Toronto, they attended the 151st running of the Queen's Plate - Canada' premier horse racing competition.
The longest trip Queen Elizabeth has made to Canada was a 45-day jaunt that began on June 18, 1959, when she visited every province and territory and attended the official opening of the St-Lawrence Seaway.
She has made a tradition of visiting Canada to mark key milestones, such as Manitoba's 100th anniversary as a province in 1970, British Columbia's 100th in 1971, as well as Alberta's and Saskatchewan's centennial in 2005, and for the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. She has never celebrated her birthday in Canada, though she was in Ottawa from April 15 to 19 in 1982 on the occasion of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act – almost certainly her most pivotal moment in Canada’s memory.
Here is how Queen Elizabeth's relationship with Canada is summarized by the British Monarchy:
The Queen personifies the state and is the personal symbol of allegiance, unity and authority for all Canadians. Legislators, ministers, public services and members of the military and police all swear allegiance to The Queen. It is for this reason that all new Canadian citizens swear allegiance to The Queen of Canada. Elections are called and laws are promulgated in The Queen's name.
Queen Elizabeth's role in Canada is to be a symbolic figurehead. She rarely, if ever, involves herself in daily affairs. And even then, it is only through her proxy, Governor-General David Johnson, and the provincial lieutenant-governors.
But she does step forward in moments of Canadian celebration and tragedy.
Last year, the Queen released a personal message to Col. Chris Hadfield to congratulate him on becoming the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. Months later, she expressed remorse after a tragic train explosion in Lac-Megantic, Que. Earlier this year, she released a similar statement following a seniors' centre fire in L'Isle-Verte, Que. 
