Canada’s royal relationship is ‘Commonwealth not Empire’
THE QUEEN’S special relationship with Canada is about “Commonwealth not Empire”, the country’s high commissioner has said as he insists it remains “very proud” of its modern relationship with the monarchy.
Ralph Goodale, high commissioner for Canada in the UK, said it was “extremely important” to demonstrate the strong bonds between countries as a friendship of “equals”.
Speaking ahead of a visit from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, who fly to Canada next week, he emphasised the “very egalitarian” relationship, with a shared monarch.
The trip follows Caribbean tours by the Cambridges and Wessexes in which the Royal family was criticised for Britain’s “colonial” past and petitioned to support slavery reparations.
The Canada trip will see the Prince and Duchess meet with indigenous communities, emphasising that they are there to listen.
In a reception at Canada House attended by the couple yesterday, Mr Goodale said he wished to “pay tribute to Her Majesty and say thank you for her unparalleled dedication”.
“Those of us who come from the Great White North, as we call it, are very proud that Her Majesty has visited Canada 22 times, more than any other country,” he said. “She is, after all, the Queen of Canada.
“It is typical of this wonderful sovereign that she wants her jubilee to be a celebration of the accomplishments and the service of others.”
Afterwards Mr Goodale added that despite recent debate about the validity of royal tours, he believed the Prince and Duchess would be more welcome than ever.
“It is a very egalitarian relationship,” he said. “It is not Empire, it is Commonwealth.
“It is a very modern relationship based upon equals. Two countries that have done amazing things together in the past and are working constantly on the new agenda for the future.
“It is a relationship that constantly reviews itself in modern terms and that is the secret of its longevity.”
During the visit, the Prince and Duchess watched a performance from the cast of the award-winning musical Come From Away, which is set in Newfoundland where the couple will land next week.
The couple will undertake the threeday visit from June 17 to 19 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
It will be the 19th visit to Canada for the Prince of Wales.