Historic Royal Charter sells for $13 million

The purchase by two of Canada's wealthiest families ensures the 355-year-old document will remain in the country.

A historic charter considered one of Canada’s founding documents has been purchased at auction for US$13 million (£9.6m).

The 1670 Hudson's Bay Company Royal Charter was issued by King Charles II and afforded the Hudson's Bay firm exclusive trading rights over a large part of what would become Canada.

The company, which continued trading for hundreds of years and played a key role in the creation of the country, hit financial trouble and filed for bankruptcy in March 2025.

This sparked fears that the Royal Charter might end up being purchased and taken abroad.

Document to remain in Canadian museums

However, it was confirmed earlier this month that the 355-year-old documents had been purchased by two of the wealthiest families in Canada via an uncontested bid at auction.

The Thomson and Weston families confirmed that responsibility of the charter will now fall to four Canadian museums: the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Archives of Manitoba.

On top of the initial purchase price, the families also revealed they will contribute a further C$5 million (US$3.6m, £2.7m) to ensure the document is preserved and that the public will still be able to access it.

From Windsor to Toronto

While the famous charter is now certain to be housed in Canada, it was initially kept in Windsor Castle after its creation.

According to the BBC, the document was then moved to the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay company in London, where it remained until 1940.

It wasn't until the 1970s that the royal charter finally found its way to Canada, being housed in Hudson's Bay's new company headquarters in Toronto.