Ottawa doctor ‘shocked’ to receive high royal honour

A local pathologist and professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine was awarded an Order of the British Empire, the equivalent of the Order of Canada.

On April 9 at Windsor Castle, Dr. Christopher Milroy was given the honour for his many ongoing professional contributions.

Milroy said he was “genuinely surprised and shocked” when the British High Commissioner in Canada told him about the award.

The author, researcher and Ottawa’s former chief pathologist is one of the world’s most cited authors in forensic and legal medicine, a statement from UOttawa says. The full-time professor at UOttawa has been teaching since coming to Canada in 2008 from England.

“The walls were lined with magnificent paintings of monarchs, generals, admirals and even a pope! We waited to be escorted to the room where Princess Anne was giving out the medals,” Milroy said in a press release. “You are inevitably a little nervous. The room is magnificent and lined with gold. You are escorted everywhere by military officials in full dress uniforms.”

Princess Anne pinned the medal on Milroy’s lapel and “chatted” with him about his career, the press release reads.

Besides bragging rights, the statement says, a perk of receiving the award is that recipients and their children can get married in a special chapel in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

“I have three sons so maybe one will get married there,” Milroy said.