William and Kate's historic Chatelaine souvenir

When Prince William and Kate Middleton leave Canada on Friday (after a visit to the Calgary Stampede, naturally), they will take with them a souvenir of their visit to our great country that is personal not only them, but to Chatelaine.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen presented The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with a May 1939 copy of Chatelaine, commemorating the first Canadian visit of a reigning monarch, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. (The royal couple were also gifted a commemorative copy of Maclean’s magazine from the same month.)

The issue (pictured) displays an original illustration of William's great-grandparents on the cover, and is a prime example of Chatelaine's pride of place in Canada's history. With a cover price of only ten cents on the eve of the Second World War, the magazine covered the latest fashion and beauty trends, which included hats reminiscent of Kate's maple leaf fascinator on Canada Day; recipes from the famous Chatelaine kitchen, with a Commonwealth theme in honour of the King and Queen; and a special editorial package on "Our Royal Chatelaine and Her Family." It seems Ms. Middleton isn't the only consort to steal the spotlight from her king. The eight-page section covers "The Scottish Girl Who Became Queen," a speculative report on the Queen's tour wardrobe and a photo album of George and Elizabeth's young family, including eldest daughter Elizabeth, the heir to the throne, at age 13.  

Some things never change. Seventy-two years later, we are still captivated by the future monarch. Kate is fast becoming a style icon, a devoted wife and the picture of a queen-to-be. And Canadians are still thrilled to welcome a royal couple to their country and receive them with fervour and fascination. And of course, Chatelaine still remains as much a part of the Canadian landscape as ever.

To view pages from the souvenir edition of Chatelaine, click here.