... as Charles faces Canada’s ‘dark past’

THE Prince of Wales was urged to apologise for the treatment of indigenous communities in Canada on behalf of the monarchy – as he and the Duchess of Cornwall touched down for a three-day visit last night.

Cassidy Caron, National Council President of the Metis people, said she intended to raise the issue with Prince Charles when they meet later today.

In his first speech of the three-day trip, Charles, 73, referred to reconciliation, saying: ‘We must find new ways to come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past: Acknowledging, reconciling and striving to do better.’

The UK enjoys a warm relationship with Canada, where the Queen is head of state, and whose Platinum Jubilee Charles and Camilla’s visit is marking.

But the country is coming to terms with the grim discovery last year of hundreds of bodies in unmarked graves at former churchrun schools, where indigenous children were forcibly relocated for generations.

Nevertheless, after the royal couple landed in Newfoundland last night, they received a very warm welcome from cheering crowds, Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau and senior leaders from indigenous groups.