Canada monarchists aflutter over royal move
A striking sight, the Royal Standard flaps against the dark skies and unrelenting rains of Vancouver, Canada's Pacific coast metropolis.
Monarchist Raymond Greenwood raised the Queen's banner atop his house just days ago to welcome Prince Harry and his wife Meghan after learning that the royal runaways were considering moving to his oceanside Kitsilano neighborhood here. Locals surveyed by AFP are giddy about their move. Tourism groups are even more excited about the prospects of a boost from the global attention on the couple.
"I'm very, very happy," said Greenwood, president of the local branch of the Canadian Club and a volunteer at Tourism Vancouver; he is also known as "Mr. Fireworks" for having brought an annual international fireworks show to the city. "I mean, who wouldn't want to run into Meghan walking her dogs in the neighborhood," he said, referring to pictures published of Meghan out for a stroll in North Saanich, where she and Harry are now staying.
He quipped that he might set up a stand to sell royal memorabilia on the street, where Chip Wilson, founder of the Lululemon yoga-wear chain, also lives. Canadian sales of the Union Jack and Saint George's Cross flags have already jumped, according to Susan Braverman, president of The Flag Shop. She admits to being "a big fan" of Meghan from the days when the former American actress appeared in the television series "Suits," shot in Toronto.
Braverman, like others here, was quick to dismiss criticism of the duke and duchess of Sussex for their shock exit from their royal roles. "We all want our kids to grow up and become independent, don't we? They're just spreading their wings," she said.
Where Harry and Meghan settle in Canada will likely depend on where they have the most support. Megan's mother Doria Ragland lives in Los Angeles, and Vancouver is the closest Canadian city with direct daily flights.
But her best friend Jessica Mulroney-married to the son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney-is in Toronto, where Meghan spent years shooting "Suits."
Canada's Atlantic Maritime provinces are arguably the most vocally pro-monarchy.
If Harry craves flavors of Britain, the island city of Victoria on the Pacific (named after Harry's great-great-greatgreat-grandmother), with its multitude of tea rooms and double-decker buses, might feel more at home. But, said Vancouver lawyer and royal commentator Edward Wang, "I wouldn't say British Columbia (overall) is very British anymore, it's become very multicultural, with large South Asian and Chinese communities."
Canadian monarchists, often on guest lists for functions hosted by Governor General Julie Payette and provincial viceregals, are champing at the chance to rub shoulders with the prince and his wife. "Selfishly, it's our hope that even if Prince Harry and Meghan are doing fewer royal duties overall, if they're doing them in Canada there'll be more for us," Bruce Hallsor.