[EN IMAGES] Prince Charles and his wife Camilla begin their visit to Canada

OTTAWA | Prince Charles landed in Canada without fanfare for a low-key royal tour as the monarchy craze is at an all-time low in the country.

“We are deeply touched by your warm welcome, we will take you with us during our visit,” the heir to the throne said, delivering a prepared speech as he landed in Newfoundland on Tuesday for the first leg of his three-day visit. .

But apart from some children, officials and journalists, there were no crowds on the way for Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, who will travel to Ottawa on Wednesday and Yellowknife on Thursday.

51% of Canadians and 71% of Quebecers are already willing to see the monarchy disappear, so that Canada appoints its own head of state, according to an Angus Reid poll published less than a month ago.

The same pollster noted in November that 66% of Canadians opposed Charles becoming their head of state, up 12% from 2016.

So Prince Charles had no right to the crowd that surrounded Queen Elizabeth II in 1997, when she stopped in Newfoundland to mark the 500-year-earlier arrival of the British ship. Matthew.

indigenous genocide

Thirty thousand people participated in the event. About forty Aboriginal protesters also took the opportunity to remember the genocide of the Beothuk people who lived in Newfoundland when the Europeans arrived. The last representative of this people died in 1829.

“I encourage you to learn the truth about our history, the good and the bad,” Governor-General Mary Simon said as she welcomed the prince. Along with Prime Minister Trudeau, she called for “understanding” and “respect” to promote reconciliation.

“I know that our visit this week comes at an important time when indigenous and non-indigenous peoples across Canada are engaged in honest and open reflection on the past,” the prince said.

apologies demanded

That’s not enough for Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron, who will seek a formal apology from the Queen on behalf of residential school victims, when she meets Charles and Camilla at Rideau Hall tonight.

Similarly, during the visit of Prince William and his wife, Kate, to the Caribbean in March, protesters demanded that the monarchy pay compensation and apologize for its role in the slave trade.

Without offering the requested royal apology and recognition, Prince Charles said he was “looking forward to hearing and learning about the future they are working to build.”

“I couldn’t be more privileged to be a part of this adventure,” he added.

regular replacement

Aged 73, the heir to the throne now regularly replaces the increasingly frail Queen Elizabeth II. His visit marks the platinum jubilee of the 96-year-old sovereign, who acceded to the throne 70 years ago.

The Trudeau government announced Monday that it will spend $2.14 million on celebrations and community projects to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

The monarchy costs Canadians an average of $67.1 million a year, according to a count from our Bureau of Research in January 2021.