Celebrity gossip at The Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton

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Heading to Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada? If you want to stay where the superstars stay, check out (or into) the luxurious Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton. To whet your appetite and to stoke those tabloid fires, here is all the celebrity gossip I could dig up.

Celebrity gossip at The Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton

While Smudge, the resident yellow lab at the Fairmont Macdonald in Edmonton, Alberta, is probably the most endearing celebrity to pad walk through the doors of Edmonton’s top luxury hotel, he’s certainly not the first star to make himself at home here. The Hotel Macdonald, an Edmonton landmark since 1915, is one of the original grand railway hotels built in Canada. Its turrets, towers and classic chateau-esque style make it – literally – fit for a queen.

I’m here for you, World. I know how much you need gossip  

In the spirit of feeding the world’s insatiable craving for celebrity gossip (not to mention my own craving) I tried to collect plenty of tabloid secrets about ‘The Mac,’ most of it having to do with the hotel’s glamorous Queen Elizabeth II Suite. None of my scoop is substantiated because hotel staff are loathe to gossip, but I’ve done my best to ferret out the best celebrity gossip from The Fairmont Macdonald hotel, just for you.

What secrets does the Fairmont hold? Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Hockey celebrity at The Fairmont Macdonald

The Washington Capitals stayed at the Hotel Macdonald in 2014. Rumour has it that when superstar Alex Ovechkin was in the lobby he agreed to pose for a photo with a little girl but refused to pose with a well-dressed woman. (PS: The well-dressed woman wasn’t me. I’m never considered well dressed.)

Larger than life superstars

When the great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti stayed in the Elizabeth II Suite of ‘The Mac’ he was, ahem, fairly large. A platform-like seat had to be built next to the bathtub so he could get in. (And word has it he was at the hotel with his mistress rather than his wife.)

Pavarotti was here! Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Don’t cry for me, I’m a celebrity

When Carol Burnett stayed in the Queen Elizabeth II Suite, which has a loft-like bedroom on the second level, she stood at the railing and sang Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

Persian perfection

Rugs for the rich and famous

When the Aga Kahn stayed in theQueen Elizabeth II Suite, genuine Persian rugs had to be purchased for the suite. They’re still there.

Classic fixture on the Edmonton skyline Photo credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Listen to what the Man Said

While in Edmonton Paul McCartney also stayed in Macdonald’s swanky Queen Elizabeth II Suite. To accommodate him a baby grand piano had to be rented and brought up to the suite on the 8th floor. No easy task. And – you heard it here first, folks – Paul McCartney likes healthy wholegrain bread.

Queen Elizabeth Suite from the 2nd level

Edmonton’s first traffic jam

Blame the Hotel Macdonald. In 1939, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother) visited the much-loved ‘Mac,’ so many well-wishers and celebrity spotters crowded below the main balcony of the hotel that Edmonton’s first traffic jam was born.

Another royal visit to Edmonton’s ‘castle’ hotel

My source, He Who Shall Remain Nameless, told me that the current queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, was very nice when she stayed at The Fairmont Macdonald and never made outrageous demands. She does, however, travel with a 5-ton truckload full of perfectly coordinated outfits – and I’d be very nice and gracious if I had a wardrobe that size, too.