Letter from Lord Carnarvon to Queen Victoria about Canadian Confederation. Dated 4 February 1867

This letter in the Royal Archives was written by Lord Carnarvon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, on 4 February 1867, informing Queen Victoria of the decision of the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to unite in a Confederation. The letter explains to the queen that the largest of these, Canada, was to be split into two new provinces, Ontario and Quebec, and that the new Confederation was to be called ‘Canada’. The queen had no objection to the decision and her reply via her Private Secretary, Sir Charles Grey, the following day conveyed her approval. Two weeks later, the queen held an audience with the delegates from each of the new provinces ahead of their return to Canada.