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Earlier this week Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, landed in Newfoundland and began their first visit to the country since they were married in 2005. During the trip Camilla will get in touch with her Canadian roots by visiting her ancestor's Canadian castle.
It doesn't seem like this trip will be complete smooth sailing for the royal couple. PETA is up in arms after Camilla wore a fur stole to a public event. It must be said that her hat was fake fur. (And I was highly amused by the "since no one who is anyone wears real fur any more" comment in the article. PETA, she got her Prince. Do you think she really cares if anyone thinks she is anyone?)
Right before the couple arrived a poll revealed that Canadians aren't crazy for Charles, though we're fond enough of Queen Elizabeth II. Yes, the Prince of Wales has an image problem. Personally, I think it largely stems from knowing too darn much about his affairs. Thanks to the very public dissolving of his marriage with Princess Diana I know things about Charles that I really wish I didn't know.
The biography of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother came out recently (I've been reading it, it's huge). I had heard through the years that she did not approve of the public nature of the divorce and did not wish for anyone from the family to speak to the public about it. What I didn't realize until this week is that the Queen Mother only ever gave one interview in her entire life. One interview that happened after she got engaged to Prince Albert. No wonder she didn't approve of the royal family speaking publicly about the marriage. Coincidentally the Queen Mother did not have an image problem in Canada. The royal visit in 1939 was enormously successful.
Marilyn has decided that the coverage of the royals isn't great. She also says that Charles isn't such a draw, really.
With the exception of the Queen, Charles on tour works better as a double-act. Bring someone attactive or higher ranking with him and he can't lose. Arrive by himself and, well who really cares, right? The minor royals suffer this indignity all of the time.
There is hope for the royals though. I found a thread in the Toronto Livejournal Community where people were wondering if it was possible to get in a line to meet them. I wasn't planning on attempting to see them. I saw Prince Charles when I was a kid. As part of the first leg of their cross-Canada Royal Couple tour in 1983 they visited my hometown. I have some pictures in my photo album. Of course you wouldn't be able to tell it was Princess Diana if I didn't tell you but I have an undeniably recognizable photo of the Prince of Wales. I'm going to end up seeing Charles and his new wife purely by accident. It turns out we're all attending the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa next week. Of course, I suspect they'll have much better seats.
Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.
