TORONTO – Prince Charles expressed his appreciation of Canada’s support for its military after presenting new colours to two Canadian regiments Thursday evening.
Thanking military families and the rest of Canada for their "compassion and loyalty," the Prince of Wales said he was moved by the acts of solidarity he has seen during his trip to Canada.
"I cannot tell you how moved my wife and I are that so many of you have chose to come here on this autumnal evening, or are watching this parade on television at home, or who line what has so poignantly become known as ‘The Highway of Heroes’ to honour the fallen," Charles said during a formal military ceremony Thursday night, in front of more than 5,000 people at Toronto University’s Varsity Stadium.
The presentation of colours is a British tradition where a member of the Royal Family will present a new flag to a military unit. Historically, that flag would be carried into battle so the commanding officer could see where his troops were located.
The prince presented new colours Thursday to the Royal Regiment of Canada and the Toronto Scottish Regiment, on the fourth day of his 11-day tour of Canada. Prince Charles is the Colonel-in-Chief of both regiments.
The ceremony’s location, the downtown Varsity Stadium, has historical significance since it was the site of the 1965 Presentation of Colours to the Toronto Scottish Regiment by the late Queen Mother.
Well ahead of the prince’s arrival, both regiments marched onto Varsity field in full military uniform.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment stood at attention in beige kilts, while the Royal Regiment of Canada wore traditional red coats.
Their old colours, or flags, were marched off the field, in anticipation of the presentation.
The band played God Save the Queen as Prince Charles entered wearing the uniform of the Royal Regiment of Canada and a tall busby fur hat, with Camilla in a dark coat and beret.
The Prince of Wales inspected the regiments with their commanding officers, Col. Blake Charles Goldring of the Royal Regiment of Canada and Lieut.-Col. Justin Neil of the Toronto Scottish. He then officially presented the regiments’ new colours, blessed by a military chaplain.
The presentation of colours was the highlight of a busy day travelling Ontario, during which the royal couple was greeted by unfettered applause at Hamilton’s Dundurn Castle.
A cheering crowd of more than 400 greeted Prince Charles and Camilla there as the royal couple visited the ancestral home of the Duchess of Cornwall.
Arriving by motorcade, the Duchess they waved at the large crowd gathered outside the castle and shook hands with the mass of smiling supporters.
Dee Dee Larocque managed to have her picture taken with Prince Charles, and said the first thing he did was shake her hand.
"I was surprised at how cordial he was," she said, grinning from ear to ear. "He was really, really charming."
"He said to me: ‘I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,’ " she said.
After about five minutes, the royal couple joined Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and began their tour of Dundurn Castle.
Built between 1832 and 1835, the distinctive Regency-style chateau was constructed for Sir Allan Napier MacNab, Camilla’s great-great-great grandfather.
Sir Allan, born in Niagara, became prime minister of the United Province of Canada in 1854. He would be buried on the castle grounds in 1862.
"It’s quite an opportunity to have Prince Charles and Camilla in town," said Hamiltonian Trish Pond, accompanied by her two young daughters. "We had to bring them down, they want to be princesses," she said, referring to her children.
Her daughters, Ashley and Olivia Laidlaw, ages five and three, nestled next to their mother’s legs holding welcome signs and large bouquets of flowers.
"They are for Camilla," Ashley shyly offered.
While Camilla’s Canadian roots were the draw for many in attendance, some still fawned over the prince.
"I’m glad he is here, it is a real honour," said John Fleming. "The more you know about him, the more you like him. And not too many people know much about him."
This is the Duchess’s first visit to Canada, and Prince Charles’ first since remarrying in 2005.
Later in the afternoon, the prince and duchess hid under overworked umbrellas as they visited HMCS Haida, a former military ship now sitting in Hamilton’s harbour as a museum.
More than 200 visitors, many in military garb, greeted the tour as rain and hail poured down. After fighting the wind on board HMCS Haida, Charles fired the ship’s guns, delighting the crowd.
He later unveiled a plaque to commemorate their visit, before leaving Hamilton to tour the Niagara College Teaching Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
On Friday, Prince Charles will officially open Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, before leaving the province for British Columbia.
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