The Dionne quintuplets in their train car on a trip to Toronto, Ontario, 1939, by an unknown photographer

This informal photograph captures a rare moment of freedom as the Dionne quintuplets (born 1934) gaze at the outside world from their train car. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth invited Ontario’s famous Dionne quintuplets to meet them at Queen’s Park on May 24, 1939, just four days before their fifth birthdays. At home, the children rehearsed before a photograph of the royal family.

With their entourage they travelled on a special Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway train to Toronto, where, with their doctor, teacher, nurses and parents, they were greeted by the royal couple.

No pictures of the royal couple were taken with the quints because Newspaper Enterprises of America would not waive exclusive photographic rights. This informal photograph is likely an unauthorized picture taken by a photographer in the travelling pool of photographers.

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