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DIRK MEISSNER
VICTORIA,
B.C.
-
Prince
Charles
joked
about
his
age
Friday
as
he
tried
to
recall
how
many
times
he
has
visited
British
Columbia.
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, left Toronto to arrive in Victoria, where they were greeted by about 1,000 people gathered on the front lawn of the B.C. legislature.
A light rain was falling and the grounds were muddy, but that didn't dampen the reception for the royal couple, who were welcomed to the westernmost province by Premier Gordon Campbell and his wife Nancy.
"For me this is what I thought was possibly my fifth or sixth visit, but the premier tells me it's my fourth, which just shows I must ... it's what happens when you get older ladies and gentlemen," said a smiling Prince of Wales.
"So, whatever visit, how many times I have been to British Columbia, I'm sure it's more, and believe it or not, my 15th to Canada," he said. "This, in itself, ladies and gentlemen, merely indicates my advancing age, if not a fond appreciation of this great country."
Prince Charles, 60, said no visitor to the province can help but be struck by the natural beauty of "this remarkable part of the world."
He said he is looking forward to visiting Vancouver Saturday to view its efforts to become one of the greenest cities in the world. He will also tour the village that will host athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.
The prince said he was last in B.C. in 1998 when he was able to take his sons, William and Harry, skiing at Whistler.
The prince and Camilla then spent several minutes walking among the crowd on the legislature lawn, stopping to shake hands and talk to well-wishers, undeterred by the rainy weather and mud.
Earlier Friday in Toronto, the couple opened the 2009 instalment of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which features equestrian competitions, eateries and livestock exhibits.
They arrived in a landau, a horse-drawn carriage, to what's billed as the world's largest indoor agricultural show.
"Ladies and gentleman, nothing could give me greater pleasure than to declare the 87th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair officially open," Charles said.
They toured the fair separately, ...[next page]
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, left Toronto to arrive in Victoria, where they were greeted by about 1,000 people gathered on the front lawn of the B.C. legislature.
A light rain was falling and the grounds were muddy, but that didn't dampen the reception for the royal couple, who were welcomed to the westernmost province by Premier Gordon Campbell and his wife Nancy.
"For me this is what I thought was possibly my fifth or sixth visit, but the premier tells me it's my fourth, which just shows I must ... it's what happens when you get older ladies and gentlemen," said a smiling Prince of Wales.
"So, whatever visit, how many times I have been to British Columbia, I'm sure it's more, and believe it or not, my 15th to Canada," he said. "This, in itself, ladies and gentlemen, merely indicates my advancing age, if not a fond appreciation of this great country."
Prince Charles, 60, said no visitor to the province can help but be struck by the natural beauty of "this remarkable part of the world."
He said he is looking forward to visiting Vancouver Saturday to view its efforts to become one of the greenest cities in the world. He will also tour the village that will host athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.
The prince said he was last in B.C. in 1998 when he was able to take his sons, William and Harry, skiing at Whistler.
The prince and Camilla then spent several minutes walking among the crowd on the legislature lawn, stopping to shake hands and talk to well-wishers, undeterred by the rainy weather and mud.
Earlier Friday in Toronto, the couple opened the 2009 instalment of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which features equestrian competitions, eateries and livestock exhibits.
They arrived in a landau, a horse-drawn carriage, to what's billed as the world's largest indoor agricultural show.
"Ladies and gentleman, nothing could give me greater pleasure than to declare the 87th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair officially open," Charles said.
They toured the fair separately, ...[next page]
News from ©The Canadian Press, 2009
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