Prince Charming Goes West: The Story of the EP Ranch

Nora D.S. Robins is the co-ordinator of Internal Collections, University
of Calgary Libraries.

In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales, visited Canada. While in Alberta, he
spent some time riding, fishing, and shooting on the Bar U Ranch near
High River. He enjoyed the ranching life so much that before his return
to England he arranged for the purchase of a small ranch in the
foothills on Pekisko Creek. The Prince of Wales characterized the ranch
as “the only piece of property I’ve ever owned,” and it remained
in his hands for the next 43 years.

The Prince of Wales was impressed by the potential of the West, and the
life of a rancher intrigued him. The E.P. Ranch became the place where
he could escape from the “too confining, too well ordered island life
of Great Britain.” With revenues from the Duchy of Cornwall, he
transformed the ranch, importing expertise and prizewinning livestock.
He corresponded regularly with the ranch manager and took an intelligent
interest in building up the stock.

Prince Charming Goes West is the story of the E.P. Ranch and the man
who owned it. It is also a history of ranching in the foothills of
southern Alberta. The author, a professor of geography at Memorial
University, is quite familiar with the region. He has written a
scholarly and entertaining book of particular interest to those curious
about the monarchy and/or ranching.