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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.
 AP Photo/The Canadian Press - Darryl Dyck After four days in Canada’s western province, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall ended their tour of British Columbia as part of their 10 day Canadian visit.
Saturday evening had Prince Charles and Camilla dine at the Government House, where they met with some native Canadians – or First Nations, as they are called over there. The pair received traditional First Nation headpieces, blankets and some wood carvings, including a walking stick for Charles. They were all given by Lieutenant Governor Steve Point.
On Sunday, Charles and his wife attended a church service in Victoria. There, they dedicated a stain glass window at Christ Church Cathedral. The window commemorated 150 years of the Anglican Diocese in British Columbia. After the service, the couple met with the 200 people who had gathered outside in the rain to see them.
 REUTERS/Andy Clark The next day, the Prince received a medal from the Canadian navy, marking his 32 years of honorary service. He was also there for the commemoration of the navy’s centennial, which took place at Esquimalt, British Columbia. During the ceremony, Charles inspected the guards and chatted with some of the navy officers.
Tuesday will see Charles and Camilla head back to Ottawa. From there, they will go to Quebec where they will finish their official visit of the Great White North. There has been some controversy over the royal couple going to the French speaking province where support for the British monarchy is low. Some have even protested the Prince and Duchess’s visit.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall’s official tour of Canada continued in Toronto and Vancouver this week. They examined Camilla’s Canadian roots and checked out the venues for the upcoming Winter Olympics in the latter city.
 REUTERS/ Mike Cassese First, Toronto. The couple arrived there on Thursday, and the first they did was tour Dundurn Castle. This castle, located in Hamilton, Ontario, was built by the Duchess’ great-great-grandfather, Sir Allan Napier MacNab, prime minister from 1854 to 1856 to the then Province of Canada.
Just before touring the castle, the royal couple met with the 400 people who had gathered outside. One of them was a woman named Dee Dee Larocque, who managed to get both her hand shook and have her picture taken with Prince Charles.
“I was surprised at how cordial he was,” she said with a big smile to her face. “He was really, really charming.”
“He said to me: `I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,”’ she said.
After greeting the crowds, the Prince and his wife went on a tour of the castle. Camilla seemed moved as she toured her ancestral home. She and her husband even planted a tree on the castle grounds.
Later, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess went aboard the HMCS Haida and unveiled a plaque in commemoration of their visit.
 REUTERS/Fred Thornhill Prince Charles then went solo to the Niagara College Teaching Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. There, he tasted some of the College’s wines and dedicated its new visitor center. The Prince was near Niagara Falls, but did not visit the landmark waterfalls, which disappointed some locals.
In the evening, Charles returned to Toronto and dressed in a military uniform in order to present new colors to the Royal Regiment of Canada and the Toronto Scottish Regiment.
The next morning, the Prince and the Duchess officially opened the 87th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum. The fair is the world’s largest indoor agricultural event and attracts thousands. Charles and Camilla took the time to meet with some of the participants. They also received gifts. Charles was presented with maple syrup and honey by the fair president’s grandson; her granddaughter gave Camilla with a western saddle.
Later, Charles went solo again when he donned a hard hat to tour the Evergreen Brick Works Restoration site.
After that, the Prince and his wife went west for the third stop of their tour: British Columbia.
They arrived in Victoria to large crowds who waited in the rain to see the royal couple. During his welcoming speech, the Prince of Wales joked about his age.
“For me this is what I thought was possibly my fifth or sixth visit, but the premier tells me it’s my fourth, which just shows I must … it’s what happens when you get older ladies and gentlemen,” he said.
 REUTERS/Andy Clark “So, whatever visit, how many times I have been to British Columbia, I’m sure it’s more, and believe it or not, my 15th to Canada,” he said. “This, in itself, ladies and gentlemen, merely indicates my advancing age, if not a fond appreciation of this great country.”
The last time the Prince came to the region was in 1998 with his sons, Princes William and Harry. Aside from a few official visits, the royal trio also went skiing at Whistler.
“[It was] something they particularly enjoyed, and partly, I suspect, because they had just reached the age when they could easily overtake their slow old father on the ski slopes. As a result, we have many happy memories of your province and of the great kindness and friendship shown to us by its people,” said Charles
On Saturday, Charles and Camilla spent much of the day touring the Olympic sites of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. They received official Olympic mittens and posed for photographers with the Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Miga and Sumi.
That evening, the couple attended a reception at the Government House back in Victoria.
Charles and Camilla will spend four days altogether in British Columbia before heading to Quebec.
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wrapped their trip to Canada’s eastern province of Newfoundland, and arrived in Toronto Wednesday afternoon. They will be in the city for three days as part of their twelve day official visit to Canada.
 REUTERS/Greg Locke This visit was probably meant to boost the profile of the Prince of Wales and his wife, but it may not be going well. Media reports point out the low turnouts to see the royal couple. Even worse, the CBC is airing a documentary tonight which questions the future of the British monarchy once Queen Elizabeth II dies.
But that all seemed far from the minds of Charles and Camilla. As they spent Tuesday and early Wednesday touring Newfoundland, the two appeared to be enjoying their stay. The Prince had a good laugh yesterday when he unveiled a plaque at the Stella Burry Community Services Center. When he removed the sheet, a parking meter was also revealed. That made it look like Prince Charles had inaugurated a parking meter!
The couple met many locals in Newfoundland, but there was one that stood out the most. After laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in St. John’s, the Prince and the Duchess talked to a crowd that had gathered. According to Toronto’s CP24, a seven year-old boy approached Camilla, threw his arms around her and gave her a kiss. The boy, named Matthew Lucas, then gave Charles a pin, but would not give him a gold pin that was pinned to his coat. It turned out the pin belonged to the boy’s father. He was serving in Afghanistan
 REUTERS/ Mike Cassese in 2007, but was killed in a roadside bomb attack. Perhaps seeing the Prince of Wales remembering his father meant a lot to Matthew.
Afterward, Charles and Camilla hopped on a plane to Toronto. As mentioned, they will be there for three days. They were greeted by Lt.-Gov. David Onley and Premier Dalton McGuinty, with whom the couple privately met with for a half hour.
Once arriving in downtown Toronto, Prince Charles went to the Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, while the Duchess of Cornwall was at the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music. They will be at a reception later in the evening.
On Monday, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in eastern Canada to begin their 10 day visit there. This is Prince Charles’ 15th visit to the Great White North, and Camilla’s first, despite having ancestral ties to the country.
 AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz The couple landed at St. John’s, Newfoundland and were greeted by Governor-General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Native drum dancers, a children’s choir and a military band were part of the welcoming ceremony.
In a speech, Charles said this trip is quite special to him.
“But more special still, if I may say so, is the opportunity to introduce my wife to Canada for her first ever visit,” he said.
The Duchess of Cornwall is descended from a prime minister, Sir Alan MacNab, and the builder of Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, Ontario. She and her husband are expected to tour that castle later in their trip.
“We are both eagerly looking forward to discovering those family roots and of seeing her forbears’ home in a few day’s time,” Prince Charles said.
But while these two are excited about seeing Canada, Canada might not be too thrilled seeing them. Poll after poll show between one-half and nearly two-thirds of Canadians want to abolish the monarchy, even though many do agree it is part of the country’s heritage. According to the Edmonton Journal, this may because “the royal family has been more a source of entertainment than an institution inspiring awe or respect among Canadians.”
Interestingly enough, one poll claims nearly 60 percent of Canadians think Prince Charles should be King. Whether they will allow him to be their King, only time will tell.
The Emperor and Empress of Japan spent their last full day in Canada Monday by going touring Vancouver. One of the stops they made was in Canada’s poorest neighborhood.
 - Reuters
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko went to the Japanese Language School and the Japanese Hall in Downtown Eastside, right after touring the Institute of Ocean Sciences. The area is known for its poverty and high drug uses.
The couple were greeted outside the school by Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. As they toured the school, the mayor told them about the history of the area that is known as “Japan Town.”
“These are the oldest neighborhoods that visitors settled in,” Robertson told them. “Now, it’s a very culturally diverse and dynamic neighborhood. It’s got a rich history.
“It was fun to meet them, and interesting to hear what they are curious about. I don’t think they realized how culturally diverse Vancouver is. They remarked on how diverse our city council was when they were introduced, and through all the photographs, how diverse the broader community is. That’s obviously a great source of pride for us.”
While at the school, Akihito and Michiko saw Japanese arts and crafts, and met with the students, who sang songs for them.
Outside, hundreds of locals crammed the streets to get a glimpse of the Emperor and Empress. One of them, Mitsuru Haga-Brownstyn, couldn’t wait to tell her sister back in Japan of who she had seen.
 - Reuters
“She won’t believe it. Most people in Japan don’t even get to meet the Emperor,” she said.
After touring the school, Akihito and Michiko moved on to the University of British Columbia, where they toured the campus’ Asian Center, and watched a film of the Emperor first visit to Canada as Crown Prince back in 1953. Afterward, the imperial couple went to see the University’s Nitobe Garden, considered to be one of the most authentic traditional tea garden outside of Japan.
Later on, they visited Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology, and Nikkei Place, a home for senior citizens, both of Japanese and non-Japanese descent. The Empress dressed in kimono for the latter event.
Tomorrow, the Emperor and Empress will end their Canadian visit, and will fly to Hawaii for a few engagements before heading back to their country.
These past two days had Japan’s Emperor and Empress go to Western Canada to visit two cities in British Columbia. Akihito and Michiko were briefly in Vancouver, before moving on to the province’s capital of Victoria.
 - Reuters
In Vancouver Friday, the Imperial couple were greeted by local residents and leaders – Canada’s First Nation chiefs included – as they toured the Olympic Oval, one of the arenas built for the Winter Olympics, in which Vancouver would be hosting in 2010. The couple met with Canada’s speed skaters and members of a local hockey team.
There may be a chance Akihito and Michiko may return to the Oval next year, to watch the Games.
After that, the two went to Victoria. Once again, they were greeted by large crowds of Japanese-Canadians, whom have been enthralled by seeing Japan’s Imperial couple.
“It was so nice to see them so close,” said Kazuyo Iga, who originates from Osaka. “They are very special people.”
“We can’t get this close to the Emperor in Japan” said Takoaki Naito who has been in Canada for 30 years.
In Victoria, the couple met with Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and Premier Gordon Campbell. Saturday saw them tour the Institute of Ocean Sciences in nearby Sidney.
 - Reuters
Sunday, Akihito and Michiko will return to Vancouver, this time to visit a Japanese language school. There has been some controversy over Their Majesties going to the school, because the neighborhood it is in, is ridden with drug addicts who casually use hard drugs such cocaine and heroin out in the open.
“It took weeks of intense, behind-the-scenes lobbying to overcome initial resistance to the idea of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko venturing through neighborhoods few tourists see,” reported Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, which described the area’s streets as “rife with the boarded-up businesses and daily horrors.”
Another controversy swirling around the imperial couple’s visit was the memory of how the Japanese committed atrocities throughout East Asia during World War II. Some Vancouver groups publicly expressed hope that Emperor Akihito would apologize in some way about the way his country behaved during that time.
No protests related to that controversy have been reported so far during the visit to British Columbia.
On Wednesday night, the Emperor and Empress of Japan arrived in Toronto, their third stop on their official visit of Canada. Upon arriving at the Royal York Hotel, they were greeted by a large group of children, some of them of Japanese descent. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko took the time to say hello and shake hands with the children.
 - Reuters
“My son shook hands with the emperor. That is a lifetime memory,” said Minoru Komori. “In Japan, the emperor is highly regarded and they usually sit in a very protected manner.”
On Thursday, Their Imperial Majesties got down to business in the Canadian capital of finance. They met with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
They also visited children at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. The couple chatted with both the staff and the children. Empress Michiko, who is patron of Japan’s Red Cross, chatted with some of the children about badminton, one of her favorite sports.
She also donated four books she had written or translated to the hospital’s library. The Empress wanted to sing a lullaby, but warned the patients, “I don’t have a good voice.”
Not everyone thought so.
 - Reuters
“She was very good. It kind of made me wish I could hear more,” said Brandon Greenwall, a patient.
Another patient, 11 year-old Douha Amani, demonstrated the Japanese she learned from her karate classes.
“I counted from one to five for the empress,” she said. “She told me she hopes my brother gets well. It’s not every day you get to meet someone so special, so it was very exciting.”
Next, the Emperor and Empress had a meeting with Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley at Queen’s Park. They later went on to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center, where the Empress wore kimono.
Friday the imperial couple arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia. Waiting for them there may be large crowds again, but also some controversy. Community groups are calling for Emperor Akihito to make amends for the atrocities Japan did during World War II. One group sent a letter to the Japanese Consulate, asking for Japan’s parliament to pass a resolution which would apologize for such actions as turning thousands of women in the Asia-Pacific region sex slaves to Japanese soldiers.
The letter does not directly ask Emperor Akihito for an apology, but it says whatever he says about the atrocities would mean a lot to the victims.
“The current emperor mentioning an apology or expression of regret over the past war can, of course, influence the Japanese people or Japanese government’s behavior,” Satoko Norimatsu, director of the Peace Philosophy Centre, told a news conference.
The letter to the Japanese Consulate thanks Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for their efforts for a peaceful world, but adds more needs to be done.
Monday saw Japan’s Imperial couple arrive in Ottawa, the third day in their eleven day official visit to Canada. They had spent their first days in the country touring the MacKenzie King estate outside of the Canadian capital, and now Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were doing the duties of a state visit.
 - Reuters
First, the Emperor and Empress were escorted by carriage, surrounded by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police, to Rideau Hall, the residence of Governor-General Michaelle Jean, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II.
“We cannot imagine a greater honor than the presence of their Majesties in Canada to mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada,” Jean said.
She went on to say that she and the Canadian people, “hope that your presence here in Canada in this year of celebration of our friendship will open the door to infinite opportunities for sharing with Japan, to which we are forever bound in our hearts and in solidarity.”
Our sincerest wish is that the memories that Their Majesties gather over the next few days will be added to those that His Majesty has kept from that visit, with our assurance that, as the Japanese-inspired proverb says, ‘No road is long with good company.’”
After talks, Akihito and Michiko planted a tree at the Governor-General’s residence to mark their visit. They also met with 150 Japanese-Canadians invited to Hall.
 - Reuters
Many Japanese-Canadians were looking forward to see the Emperor and Empress, as two guests explained:
“I’m absolutely excited. It’s a very rare occasion, and my mother is very proud back home,” said Ottawa resident Minori Goto. “It’s very rare in Japan to see the Emperor and Empress. You really have to be a celebrity almost to see them so close.”
“In Japan, you rarely can see the emperor and empress this close up. It’s always behind bulletproof glass,” said Jane Hayami, who dressed in a traditional kimono and is a member of the Ottawa-based Emi-no-kai Japanese dance troupe. “It was quite an experience. They were quite elegant to look at and very down-to-earth.”
Later in the day, the Imperial couple met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
At night, there was a state dinner hosted by Michaelle Jean.
Thursday, the Emperor and Empress will be in Toronto, Canada’s financial capital. Later in the week, they will move on to British Columbia.
Just over two hours ago, Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Ottawa, Canada for their 11-day goodwill visit of the Great White North.
 - Reuters
It is the first time the couple is visiting the country since Akihito ascended to the throne in 1989. He once toured Canada in 1953 as a 19 year-old Crown Prince.
This tour is to mark the 80 years Canada established diplomatic ties with Japan.
“Fifty-six years have passed since then, and I am much delighted that I will be visiting there once again, this time with the Empress,”Akihito said in a departure speech.
Upon arriving, the Emperor and Empress were greeted by Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon and Cooperation Minister Bev Oda.
On Saturday, the couple will visit MacKenzie King estate in Gatineau Park, near Ottawa. Sunday will see them meet with Canada’s leaders, Governor General Michaelle Jean, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
For the rest of their tour, Akihito and Michiko will be in Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver.
After Canada, they will move on to Hawaii, to mark the 50th anniversary of a scholarship foundation, which was set up to commemorate the imperial couple’s golden anniversary, plus meet with Hawaii’s large Japanese community.
Also in Hawaii, the Emperor and Empress will visit the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, where American soldiers, including those who died in the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor, are interred.
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