The team began play during the 2011–12 season after the league announced the relocation of the Chilliwack Bruins to Victoria.

It marked the return of the WHL to Vancouver Island, 17 years after the departure of the Victoria Cougars.

Victoria was left without a WHL team when the Cougars franchise relocated to Prince George in 1994.

The Royals reached the 50-win mark for the first time and secured their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season.

Marc Habscheid served as the first head coach and general manager of the Royals during the team's inaugural season; in June 2012, he announced that he was leaving both positions.