As the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall wrapped their 10-day official visit of Canada, it was clear quite a few did not want them around. Demonstrations against Charles and Camilla derailed some of their Montreal engagements, and throughout the entire tour, crowds were noticably smaller compared to previous royal visits.
REUTERS/Chris Wattie
After touring British Columbia, the couple headed back to Ottawa on Monday. They finally met with Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and Governor-General, Michaelle Jean.
It was Harper who gave gifts to Prince Charles for his sons, William and Harry. The presents were two red sweaters and caps worn by Inuit Rangers, since the two Princes are honorary members of the Arctic Guard.
“I hope they fit,” joked Prince Charles, according to the AFP.
“One-size fits all,” said Harper’s wife Laureen.
Later in the day, the couple traveled east to Quebec, Canada’s French speaking province, for Prince Charles to participate in a ceremony to unveil new colors for a regiment. It was then he and Camilla ran into rallies that arose even before they arrived. About 200 demonstrators gathered outside a Montreal regiment, chanting “Majesty, go home!” and blocked the entrance. Some of them through eggs at the soldiers, and there were a few arrests.
REUTERS/Christinne Muschi
This caused the couple’s arrival to be delayed, and when they finally did arrive, they had to be escorted through the back entrance. This, instead of having a welcoming ceremony at the front entrance.
The protests were organized by the Quebecois Network of Resistance, a small group calling for Quebec’s secession from Canada.
After the regiment ceremony, Charles and Camilla flew back to Ottawa, where they observed Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day as it is called in Canada. Wearing a full military uniform, Charles, who is colonel-in-chief for three regiments, laid a wreath with the Governor General at the National War Memorial. The Prince even met with some veterans and military families.
REUTERS/Chris Wattie
In an interview, Prince Charles said this about the veterans: “How much we owe them. An enormous debt of gratitude for the incredible service and duty that they perform on our behalf in some of the most difficult and impossible conditions you could imagine. And I certainly don’t take for granted what they do, because it is quite remarkable how many people are prepared to give such service.”
The next day, Thursday, their last engagement in Canada was planting an oak tree at Rideau Hall. They then boarded a plane, and headed home.
For the most part, it has been a ho-hum tour of the Great White North. There were a flood of reports of small crowds, unlike Charles’ last two Canadian vists in 1992 and 1998. But then again, he had Princess Diana with him in 1992, and his sons were the main attraction in the latter year. One does wonder if the indifference expressed this time around will determine the British monarchy’s future with Canada.
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