Her Majesty Queen Camilla Declares Herself a Maple Leafs Fan During Surprise Visit to Toronto
By Elizabeth Harper | May 27, 2025
In a turn of events that surprised royal watchers and hockey fans alike, Queen Camilla, consort of King Charles III, has publicly declared her support for the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming perhaps the most unexpected addition to Leafs Nation this season.
The revelation came during Her Majestyโs visit to Toronto this week, part of a broader Canadian tour aimed at strengthening ties between the Crown and the Commonwealth country.
While most stops included traditional engagements โ cultural visits, school openings, and environmental initiatives โ the Queen added a spontaneous twist to her itinerary with an impromptu visit to Scotiabank Arena.
Dressed in an elegant navy coat subtly accented with blue and white, Queen Camilla was welcomed with cheers as she toured the arena on Monday.
But it was what happened next that sparked a media frenzy. While addressing a small group of youth hockey players from the Greater Toronto Area, Camilla made the bold proclamation:
“I must confess, after all these years of hearing about the Toronto Maple Leafs, Iโve decided to stop resisting and proudly say โ Iโm a Leafs fan now.”
The room reportedly erupted into cheers and laughter, with one young player offering her a blue Maple Leafs jersey bearing her name and the number 75, representing both her age and the long drought since the teamโs last Stanley Cup win in 1967. The Queen graciously accepted the gift and even posed for photos, holding a hockey stick and wearing the jersey over her coat.
Buckingham Palace officials later confirmed the Queen’s remarks were genuine and not simply a diplomatic gesture. โHer Majesty has always had a fondness for spirited sports traditions, and she found the passion of Leafs fans deeply infectious during this visit,โ said a spokesperson.
โSheโs followed the NHL in a casual way for years but feels a certain kinship with the long-suffering but eternally hopeful supporters of the Toronto Maple Leafs.โ
Social media lit up immediately, with #LeafsQueen trending in Canada and the UK within hours. Some fans embraced the new royal endorsement with open arms, calling it a good omen for the franchise, which made the Eastern Conference Finals this year for the first time since 2002.
Local fan and season ticket holder Raj Malhotra expressed his excitement: โIf the Queen is on board, maybe the Hockey Gods are finally paying attention. Maybe THIS is the year.โ
Others were more skeptical, with British tabloids cheekily asking whether Her Majesty had โabandoned the Crown for the Leafs.โ Still, most royal watchers agree the Queen’s declaration is a charming, if unconventional, move that adds a personal touch to an otherwise formal tour.
Queen Camilla is scheduled to attend tonightโs playoff game against the New York Rangers โ her first-ever live NHL game. Rumor has it sheโll drop the ceremonial puck.
Should the Leafs go all the way this year, one thing is certain: they’ll have a very regal cheerleader watching from across the pond โ and perhaps, now, sitting in the royal box.