The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit Canada
Published
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have completed a three-day tour of Canada that saw them celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.
The Commonwealth country has been marking the milestone with national events that culminated in Canada Day on Saturday - with Their Royal Highnesses invited to the party.
The Royal trip highlighted the four themes of Canada150 - diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, young people and the environment.
Their visit began in Iqaluit, the remote capital city of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, which is close to the Arctic Circle.
HRH learned about the steps to preserve the Inuit language and receive a brief lesson in how to speak it and the local culture. The Prince gave a speech, speaking a few phrases of the local language Inuktitut, saying "Ullukkut", meaning "good day", and "Quviasuttunga iqalunnuurama", meaning "I'm happy to be here in Iqaluit".
At a separate event, the Duchess was a guest at a women and wellness reception.
To finish off Day One, TRHs jointly attended a community feast at Sylvia Grinnell territorial park, where they watched local performances, artists at work and joined elders for tea and bannock, an Inuit flat bread.
On Day Two of the tour, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall paid tribute to those in the Canadian military who died while on operations in Afghanistan. Their Royal Highnesses laid a floral tribute at a national memorial in Trenton near Toronto, in honour of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the conflict.
On the third and final day of the tour, The Prince of Wales held informal talks with Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the Canada150 anniversary celebrations.
At the extravaganza on Parliament Hill, The Prince of Wales told the thousands gathered their homeland was a place "others look to for example".
His Royal Highness was joined on stage by Justin Trudeau and shared positive attributes of the Commonwealth nation, from championing human rights to being responsible stewards of the environment.
Before the end of their tour TRH planted a sugar maple tree in the grounds of Ottawa's Rideau Hall and wished it "good luck", touching it in turn.
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