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Where to mail a request for a Governor General's or King's greeting

Mail your request to Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Rideau Hall, c/o Anniversaries, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0A1. This one Rideau Hall desk handles both of Canada's milestone-greeting programs: the Governor General's own card for 90th birthdays and 50th anniversaries and up, and His Majesty The King's card for 100th birthdays and 60th anniversaries and up. You no longer need to send proof of birth or marriage, and the request itself costs nothing to mail if you use Rideau Hall's own postage-paid form.

Mail my greeting request — $6

$6 flat — postage included · no account needed

Mailing address

Verified September 2026

Birthday & anniversary greeting requests

Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
c/o Anniversaries
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON  K1A 0A1

Requests for a Governor General or King greeting for a Canadian citizen or resident celebrating a milestone birthday or wedding anniversary — one address covers both programs.

Mail my greeting request — $6

No printer, envelope, or stamp — we print and mail it the next business day.

Sources

Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

Key facts

  • Two programs, one address: the Governor General's own greeting starts at a 90th birthday or 50th anniversary; His Majesty The King's greeting (for Canada) starts at a 100th birthday or 60th anniversary — both are requested through Rideau Hall, not Buckingham Palace.
  • No proof of birth or marriage is required to apply — a change from the old rule that used to ask for a certified copy.
  • Send your request at least 8 weeks before the date you need it delivered by; Rideau Hall accepts applications up to a year in advance and mails messages roughly a month before the occasion unless you ask for different timing.
  • You can set up automatic recurring greetings: every 5 years starting at 90/50th, or every year starting at 100/70th.
  • PostPal prints your completed request and deposits it with Canada Post the next business day for $6 — handy if you'd rather not print Rideau Hall's own form yourself.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Check which program fits

    If the celebrant is turning 90–99 or marking a 50th–59th anniversary, it's the Governor General's own greeting. At 100+ or a 60th anniversary and up, it's a message from The King, arranged the same way through Rideau Hall.

  2. 2

    Fill out Rideau Hall's request form

    Download the printable request form from gg.ca (linked in the sources below), or use the online form. You no longer need to attach a birth or marriage certificate.

  3. 3

    Mail it at least 8 weeks ahead

    Address the envelope to Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, c/o Anniversaries, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0A1. Rideau Hall's own printed form has a postage-paid return panel, so mailing it costs nothing if you use that form.

  4. 4

    Or send it through PostPal

    Upload your completed request to PostPal and we'll print it, seal it, and hand it to Canada Post the next business day for $6 flat, with a dated confirmation emailed to you — useful if you don't have a printer or want proof of when it was mailed.

Common questions

Where do I send a request for a 100th birthday greeting from the King?

Mail it to Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, c/o Anniversaries, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0A1. Canadians apply through Rideau Hall, not Buckingham Palace — the Palace directs Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand residents to their own Governor-General.

Do I need a birth certificate to request the greeting?

No. Rideau Hall no longer requires proof of birth or marriage to process a request, which is a change from the older process — just the request form with the celebrant's details.

What's the difference between the Governor General's greeting and the King's greeting?

They're both requested at the same Rideau Hall address, but eligibility differs: the Governor General sends a card starting at a 90th birthday or 50th wedding anniversary, while a message from The King is reserved for 100th birthdays and 60th anniversaries and up.

How far ahead do I need to mail my request?

At least 8 weeks before the delivery date you want. Rideau Hall accepts requests up to a year in advance and, unless you specify otherwise, mails the greeting about a month before the occasion.

Can I set up greetings for every future milestone automatically?

Yes. Rideau Hall offers automatic recurring greetings — every 5 years once someone reaches 90 (or a 50th anniversary), and every year once they reach 100 (or a 70th anniversary) — so you only have to submit the request once.

Can PostPal mail my greeting request for me?

Yes. Upload your completed request form (with the celebrant's name, address, and occasion date) and PostPal prints it, envelopes it, and deposits it with Canada Post the next business day for $6 flat, with a dated Confirmation of Mailing emailed to you.

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