The Prince of Wales has agreed to strict
precautions to avoid exporting
foot-and-mouth disease when he jets off
for Canada on a five-day official tour.
On arrival at McDonald Cartier International
Airport in Ottawa on
Wednesday, he will take a detour off the
red carpet to dip his shoes in disinfectant.
The Prince's clothes, and those of his entourage,
must also have
been "properly laundered" to comply with
the precautions agreed
between the Canadian authorities and St
James's Palace.
The Canadians are particularly concerned
about foot-and-mouth and
recently turned back a British military
ship over fears that mud
on the wheels of vehicles on board could
be harbouring the disease.
Other concessions to the disease include
ensuring the Prince does
not visit any farms, even though he will
be spending three days
in the central "prairie province" of Saskatchewan.
The Prince's trip will begin with a walk
through downtown Ottawa
to a war memorial, where he will meet a
First World War veteran
and lay a wreath brought from Westminster
Abbey in London.
On Thursday, he will set off for Saskatchewan,
considered one of
the most royalist provinces of Canada,
where he will meet First
Nation tribesmen and walk through national
parkland.
The final leg of the tour is in Yukon, a
region bordering Alaska,
where the Prince will open a scenic walk
named after him and visit
the tiny remote community of Mayo.
The trip will end in Toronto, from where the Royal party fly back to London.
Prince Charles last visited Canada when
he took Princes William
and Harry to Vancouver in March, 1998,
and he visited alone in 1996
when he went to Manitoba, Ontario and New
Brunswick. In October,
1991, he visited with Diana, Princess of
Wales.
The Prince of Wales has had to be disinfected before being allowed into Ottawa for an official tour.
Before stepping on to a red carpet, the royal visitor trudged over a special mat laced with chemicals to ensure he was not bringing foot-and-mouth disease from the UK.
Charles also had to ensure his clothes and those of the royal party were "properly laundered" and that no meat products were brought on the plane for the six-day trip.
After the Canadian government Airbus touched down at Ottawa Airport, three men carrying a blue mat marched up to the red carpet awaiting the Prince and positioned it carefully at the bottom of the steps.
They carefully taped it down with two broad bands of red tape before making way for a woman brandishing a can of pink liquid.
She splashed it liberally all over the mat and stepped back in time for Charles, wearing a double breasted blue suit, to walk down the steps and, with a grin, stride with a splash on to the mat.
Early plans for the Prince to visit farmland have been scrapped, although Charles will meet farmers when he visits the central province of Saskatchewan - a region big on GM crops.
In an article for a Canadian newspaper, the Prince took the opportunity to explain why he favours sustainable agriculture and small-scale organic farming.
In an editorial today, however, the Globe
and Mail says he faces a "hard sell" if he intends to talk round prairie
farmers, saying: "If Charles has a chance to talk to farmers, he will find
them fixedly bottom-line orientated."
His hair a little windswept,
his body a bit stiff and his suit jacket slightly creased from travel,
Prince Charles mingled through throngs of Ottawa admirers yesterday afternoon.
Graciously accepting
gifts of floral bouquets, hand-knitted woollen socks, Girl Guide cookies
and a stuffed teddy bear, the heir to the British throne greeted thousands
of royal subjects during a downtown walkabout.
"Charming. So very charming,"
gushed monarchist Irene Paterson, who came from Cornwall for a front-row
glimpse.
She wasn't the only
one wowed by the grace of royalty.
Packed among thick rows
along Sparks St. were schoolchildren, seniors and adults delighted by shaking
hands and making light conversation with the man who would be king.
The royal visit began
with the Prince of Wales carefully descending 20 steps from jet to the
tarmac, wearing a green ribbon on his lapel in support of farmers. He smiled
and waved formally at the casual welcome hollered up from Canada's Heritage
Minister, Sheila Copps.
Before gracing the long
red carpet, the prince decontaminated his shiny shoes on a mat freshly
doused with pink disinfectant. In this regard, he was treated like any
other common visitor from Britain. The precautionary measure is required
to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth diseasethat is ravaging livestock
in the U.K.
'INTIMATE' GREETING
The "intimate" greeting
to Canada -- a kiss on both cheeks -- that the normally reserved Prince
exchanged with Copps had tongues wagging among members of the foreign press.
"I've never seen him
kiss a complete stranger like that!" commented one aghast British photographer.
After shaking hands
with a row of dignitaries, His Royal Highness boarded a luxurious car --
its red plate adorned with a gold crown -- to the downtown Terry Fox memorial.
There he was greeted
by thousands of cheering fans of all ages who waved Canadian and British
flags and wore colourful paper crowns, jostling for space to get up close
and personal with the royal.
As a young boys' choir
sang Consider Yourself One of Us, the prince began the lunch-hour stroll.
Some he met trembled and others broke out in tears. Some were humbled by
the his presence, but were surprised and warmed by his down-to-earth, human
approach.
"He has a tremendous
amount of poise, but he has a real way of setting people at ease," remarked
Steve Moore of Ottawa.
Some carried signs welcoming
the Prince; one wide-eyed girl held a placard which read, "Say Hi to William
for me!"
Greeted at the National
War Memorial by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the Prince stood tall through
God Save the Queen and The Last Postbefore laying a wreath at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier.
Chatting with veterans
and admiring their medals,the prince then made a stop at Abbeyfield House
seniors' residence for a cup of tea before heading to the Canadian Museum
of Civilization.
'WARM WELCOME'
In a brief address which
he began in French, Prince Charles called it a "privilege" to be back in
Canada and expressed gratitude for a wonderfully warm welcome." He also
celebrated volunteerism -- the key theme of his Canadian tour.
Last night, Prince Charles
dined in the ballroom of Rideau Hall with Chretien and Gov. Gen. Adrienne
Clarkson, celebrated volunteers and other guests. The Prince of Wales again
thanked those who generously give time to their communities, who help to
build a brighter future without government and without "PR."
"It is not about hype,
it is about hope," he said.
It was a day that began
with a hero's welcome, took a graceful, princely tour and finished with
a dinner fit for a king.
