Lilias Massey
Encyclopedia
Lilias Massey served as Chatelaine
of Rideau Hall
during her father-in-law Vincent Massey
's term as Governor General of Canada
.
Vincent Massey was a widower whose wife Alice
died 18 months before his appointment as Governor General. Lilias, who was married to Vincent and Alice Massey's son Lionel, is to date the only person to have served as the official host or hostess of Rideau Hall who was not the Governor General's spouse.
Due to the conventions of formal address that were used in the 1950s, she may also be referred to in some references as Mrs. Lionel Massey rather than by her own given name. However, she was not given the honorary style of Her Excellency
, which is given to the Governor General and a viceregal consort
who is his or her spouse.
Chatelaine
Châtelaine has the following meanings:*Châtelaine, a woman who owns or controls a large house ....
of Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
during her father-in-law Vincent Massey
Vincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
's term as Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Vincent Massey was a widower whose wife Alice
Alice Massey
Alice Parkin Massey was a Canadian philanthropist and the wife of Vincent Massey, who became Governor General of Canada shortly after Alice Massey's death....
died 18 months before his appointment as Governor General. Lilias, who was married to Vincent and Alice Massey's son Lionel, is to date the only person to have served as the official host or hostess of Rideau Hall who was not the Governor General's spouse.
Due to the conventions of formal address that were used in the 1950s, she may also be referred to in some references as Mrs. Lionel Massey rather than by her own given name. However, she was not given the honorary style of Her Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
, which is given to the Governor General and a viceregal consort
Viceregal consort of Canada
The viceregal consort of Canada is the spouse of the serving governor general of Canada, assisting the viceroy with ceremonial and charitable work, accompanying him or her to official state occasions, and occasionally undertaking philanthropic work of their own...
who is his or her spouse.