ON THE COVER Canada Celebrates 150 Years
Camilla is by Charles’ side for the nation’s festivities
On July 1, 1867, the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick joined together to create the Dominion of Canada, the self-governing British colony that has extended over the years to become today’s fabulous Canadian nation!
Canadians love a good party and they’ve been celebrating their country’s 150th anniversary since January 1, 2017.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Canada’s (incredibly handsome) Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. “We’ve got a lot to celebrate!”
Canada’s official 150th anniversary celebrations will peak on July 1 – Canada Day. Throughout Canada, there will be hundreds of events, including festivals, parades and pancake breakfasts, complete with maple syrup!
Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, will have an enormous fireworks display, fire-breathing dragons and a picnic for thousands of people. Montreal will light up its famous Jacques Cartier Bridge and the small town of Campbellford, Ontario, will hold a special 150th anniversary edition of its annual goat race!
As part of the national 150th anniversary celebrations, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are currently undertaking a short royal tour.
Their tour starts on June 29 with an official Welcome to Canada ceremony at Iqaluit, a remote city on Baffin Island which is completely cut off from the rest of the country during the winter months. While visiting Iqaluit, the royal couple will tuck in to a community feast, where they will meet some of the city’s residents, many of whom are descendants of the Inuits who have lived here for thousands of years.
The next day of the royal tour will involve another Canadian island – Prince Edward County, which is on the north shore of Lake Ontario and is famed for its beauty and being “cool”. Then, on July 1, Charles and Camilla will join in with the spectacular Canada Day celebrations taking place at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill.
This will be Charles’ 18th official visit to Canada and the fourth for Camilla.
“It is always a special joy to be back in Canada,” Charles said when the couple visited in 2014. “It is a place that is very dear to us both.”
Having previously been very formal and almost stilted when he was undertaking official duties, since Camilla became a permanent fixture at his side, Charles has visibly relaxed. In fact, Camilla and Charles have become experts at working a crowd, with both of them sharing the limelight, often going their separate ways to ensure they meet as many wellwishers as possible.
Yet, initially, Camilla was determined to stay in the background and avoid official duties such as royal visits and
tours as much as possible. However, just as our serious reservations about the woman behind one of the greatest royal scandals were gradually replaced by fondness, so Camilla had a change of heart about being in the public eye.
Admitting she prefers wellies to smart suits, she now undertakes over 200 official engagements a year.
“Sometimes, you get up in the morning and think you can’t do it,” the Duchess of Cornwall said recently. “You just have to get on with it.”
During this tour, Charles and the woman he describes as “my darling wife” will meet hundreds of people from all walks of life – and, in true royal family tradition, they will both know exactly what to say to every one of them.
“I genuinely like people and I’m so curious about them,” Camilla once said. “Other people’s lives are so much more interesting.”
Camilla’s natural curiosity and down to earth nature have obviously rubbed off on her husband, who now allows his love of life to shine through when he’s out and about.
Despite rumours to the contrary, the Queen has always liked Camilla, even if she did not always approve of her. Nowadays the two are great friends, sharing a love of the countryside, children and grandchildren (and dogs) and, of course, Charles.
Having benefited over the years from Prince Philip’s stalwart support, the Queen knows how important Camilla’s counsel will be to her son in coming years. Known the world over as the Prince of Wales’ true love, Camilla is also Charles’ strength and stay.
Three cheers for Camilla, Charles – and Canada!