HRH The Prince of Wales: Colonel-in-Chief
Doing his job:
Charles, Camilla resume Ontario tour, praise public support for troopsWith the Toronto Scottish:
Prince Charles expressed his appreciation of Canada's support for its military after presenting new colours to two Canadian regiments Thursday evening.Aaron Lynett / National Post His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pose for the official photograph with the Royal Regiment of Canada at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Thursday evening
Thanking military families and the rest of Canada for their "compassion and loyalty," the Prince of Wales said he was moved by the acts of solidarity he has seen during his trip to Canada.
"I cannot tell you how moved my wife and I are that so many of you have chose to come here on this autumnal evening, or are watching this parade on television at home, or who line what has so poignantly become known as ‘The Highway of Heroes' [video here] to honour the fallen," Charles said during a formal military ceremony Thursday night, in front of more than 5,000 people at Toronto University's Varsity Stadium.
The presentation of colours is a British tradition where a member of the Royal Family will present a new flag to a military unit. Historically, that flag would be carried into battle so the commanding officer could see where his troops were located.
The prince presented new colours Thursday to the Royal Regiment of Canada [more here] and the Toronto Scottish Regiment [more here], on the fourth day of his 11-day tour of Canada. Prince Charles is the Colonel-in-Chief of both regiments.
The ceremony's location, the downtown Varsity Stadium, has historical significance since it was the site of the 1965 Presentation of Colours to the Toronto Scottish Regiment by the late Queen Mother.
Well ahead of the prince's arrival, both regiments marched onto Varsity field in full military uniform.
The Toronto Scottish Regiment stood at attention in beige kilts, while the Royal Regiment of Canada wore traditional red coats.
Their old colours, or flags, were marched off the field, in anticipation of the presentation.
The band played God Save the Queen as Prince Charles entered wearing the uniform of the Royal Regiment of Canada and a tall busby fur hat, with Camilla in a dark coat and beret.
The Prince of Wales inspected the regiments with their commanding officers, Col. Blake Charles Goldring of the Royal Regiment of Canada and Lieut.-Col. Justin Neil of the Toronto Scottish. He then officially presented the regiments' new colours, blessed by a military chaplain...
The Prince will attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa, November 11; here are the full itinerary and highlights of the royal visit.The Prince of Wales at the Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Canada, presenting new colours to the Toronto Scottish Regiment.
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 4:02 p.m.
3 Comments:
"Beige kilts"? "Flags"?
No, it's Hodden Grey. And Colours are never flags.
There was a time when the National Putz could be counted on to get those things right.
I was there. The Prince's remark about the 'autumnal evening' was greeted with a chuckle from the crowd, as it was exceptionally cold in the stadium. Unfortunately, it was so cold that many had to leave early (for the well-being of children and the elderly).
Also amusing was when one of the Chaplains present inadvertently called upon god to bless "our King".
On the whole, it was a very impressive display by the regiments, and another great opportunity to connect the Forces and the monarchy to the people of Canada.
Primus: too true, and that's not the only gaffe. Blake Goldring is in fact an Honourary Colonel, and not the Royal Regiment's CO. That position is filled by LCol Cliff Trollope. But Goldring is a much more well-known public figure, and so the reporters seem to be drawn to him like a moth to the flame.
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