Explore The Royal Family's close relationship with the region, as well as the diverse artistic traditions represented in the Royal Collection
Queen Victoria names British Columbia, 24 July 1858
24 - 24 Jul 1858RCIN 5100111
In 1858, Queen Victoria was approached by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Secretary of State for the Colonies, about the name for the new colony which was prospering on the Pacific coast of North America. This letter from the Royal Archives shows the queen’s response. It states that if the French were using the proposed name ‘New Caledonia’ for another colony (the archipelago in the South Pacific), perhaps it would be suitable for the territory to be named ‘British Columbia’, as ‘Columbia’ was the only name that already encompassed the entirety of its proposed extent on maps. The queen’s suggestion was accepted, and the colony of British Columbia was born.
