Canadians ply young prince with presents
It may be a while before Prince George pays a visit to Canada, but the country’s future king already has plenty of symbolic homegrown mementoes.
On their official website, Prince William and his wife Kate expressed gratefulness for the gifts they’ve already received for their newborn son, but suggest well-wishers instead support those in need, such as a local children’s charity.
Canada appears to be heeding the call. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a donation by the government of $100,000 to a Canadian child-focused charity to be named at a later date. In addition, Harper announced the offering of a Canadian-handcrafted blanket “reflective of our country’s rich and diverse culture.
Harper and his wife, Laureen, and Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife, Sharon, are also offering a personal present to the infant heir to the throne: a selection of Canadian children’s books in both official languages, many of which have won the Governor General’s Literary Awards.
The Monarchist League of Canada is also opting to take the charitable route. Rather than sending an actual gift, branches and members are being encouraged to raise money and collect gifts for local charities in Canada, said chair Robert Finch.
“Ultimately, the royal couple will be bombarded with presents, so this is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the birth by helping others less fortunate,” Finch said in an email to The Canadian Press.
The mayor of Prince George, B.C., Shari Green, said a gift basket is being prepared for the prince, who shares a name with the Canadian city.
The basket will include a baby shirt with a logo of Mr. P.G., the city mascot, which symbolizes the importance of the forest industry within Prince George.
Green said the city will also proclaim July 22 of each year Prince George of Cambridge Day to commemorate the birthday of the future king.
Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo and his wife, Nancy, sent a pair of Infant Scout moccasins, as well as Edna Nabess mukluks, from aboriginal-owned Canadian company Manitobah Mukluks.