Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Queen of Canada: she's on our money and our stamps, her portraits hang in government buildings, courthouses and arenas across the country. Her son Charles, Prince of Wales, will soon be our king.

It has been 70 years since our Queen ascended to the throne, but what is her role in a modern Canada? And who is the Governor General and how do they fit into the hierarchy? What powers do these historic offices still hold?

In this episode I dig into these issues with history professor Barbara Messamore, an expert on the role of the Crown in Canada, and in particular the function of the office of the Governor General.

Professor Messamore holds a PhD in history from the University of Edinburgh and is a member of the executive committee for the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada.