2014 Royal Visit

Boredom an art form for the Royal Family

By Bartley Kives 5 minute read Friday, May. 23, 2014

If you had to choose only one reason to not have children or merely pretend you don't have any in your life, it would be to avoid the dullest spectacle known to humankind -- the dreaded dance recital.

Waiting in line at the bank is boring. Listening to middle-aged people talk about their personal finances is even worse.

But when it comes to mind-numbing, soul-destroying, trauma-inducing tedium, there's nothing quite like being forced to sit in a stale room and feign interest while the unco-ordinated offspring of other humans attempt to frolic and flit about in a manner that is supposed to be a routine of some form, but is actually just a series of random movements.

Happily, most people only have to endure this particular brand of boredom once a year, or maybe twice if they're terrible at coming up with excuses to avoid recitals.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Weather

Sep. 25, 6 PM: 17°c Windy Sep. 26, 12 AM: 12°c Clear

Winnipeg MB

18°C, Windy

Full Forecast

Russian protest follows Charles's remarks

Gregory Katz, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Russian protest follows Charles's remarks

Gregory Katz, The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, May. 23, 2014

LONDON - Russia has criticized Prince Charles's reported comparison of President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler and is protesting the matter with Britain.

In a private conversation during his four-day visit to Canada that ended Wednesday, Charles reportedly compared Hitler's 1939 invasion of Poland with Russia's annexation of Crimea.

In Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Russia wanted an explanation from Britain about whether Charles expressed that view and whether the wider British government shares it.

"If these words indeed were said, they don't befit a future British monarch," Lukashevich told reporters Thursday.

Read
Friday, May. 23, 2014

Prince Charles tries Google Glass in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Prince Charles tries Google Glass in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Royals take quick taste of our city

By Larry Kusch, Bruce Owen and Mary Agnes Welch 12 minute read Preview

Royals take quick taste of our city

By Larry Kusch, Bruce Owen and Mary Agnes Welch 12 minute read Thursday, May. 22, 2014

The future king fed a polar bear, crafted the perfect paper airplane and nearly lost his voice during an understated but jam-packed visit to Winnipeg Wednesday.

Though it lacked the huge and hyped-up crowds that greeted Queen Elizabeth several years ago, Charles and Camilla's visit was arguably more cerebral and relevant. The royal couple's tour subtly highlighted the stigma of mental illness, the need for business innovation, the power of the arts to heal and even the abandonment of inner-city neighbourhoods by Canada's big banks.

It was the Prince of Wales' fifth visit to Manitoba, one that was scripted to the minute, tightly controlled and saw everyone on their stiffest behaviour. Door-openers were designated at each location. Media were hustled behind rope lines, and police officers kept the modest number of well-wishers in check.

And, while the royals hopscotched around the city, from the airport to Assiniboine Park to the Exchange District and beyond, a minor scandal brewed at home. Charles allegedly compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hitler during a private conversation in Halifax, according to a media report, prompting a Labour MP to call for Charles to abdicate and run for office if he wants to make statements on geopolitics.

Read
Thursday, May. 22, 2014

Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press
A princess waits for her prince: Kiri MacAulay, 3, shows her patriotic pride on dad Scott's shoulders at the legislature.

Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press
A princess waits for her prince: Kiri MacAulay, 3, shows her patriotic pride on dad Scott's shoulders at the legislature.

Circus upstaged nation-building

Dean Jobb 5 minute read Preview

Circus upstaged nation-building

Dean Jobb 5 minute read Thursday, May. 22, 2014

When a delegation of politicians from Central Canada arrived in Charlottetown in the summer of 1864 to discuss the idea of uniting Britain's North American colonies, only one representative of the Prince Edward Island government was available to greet them.

Everyone else in the tiny capital of 7,000, it seemed, had run off to see the circus.

Slaymaker and Nichols' Olympic Circus was the first travelling show to visit the Island in 20 years, and the serious business of nation-building had to compete with the antics of clowns, acrobats and trained monkeys.

The 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference is being marked with a summer of festivals, fireworks and music -- country superstar Shania Twain is taking a break from her Las Vegas show to headline a concert -- to rival anything Slaymaker and Nichols could stage.

Read
Thursday, May. 22, 2014

Postmedia
The Fathers of Confederation meet in Charlottetown in 1864. John A. Macdonald is seated, centre front.

Postmedia
The Fathers of Confederation meet in Charlottetown in 1864. John A. Macdonald is seated, centre front.

Royalty or not, is there a right time to retire?

By Gordon Sinclair Jr. 5 minute read Preview

Royalty or not, is there a right time to retire?

By Gordon Sinclair Jr. 5 minute read Thursday, May. 22, 2014

The last time I saw Prince Charles in person was on one of those endless summer days in the Canadian Arctic.

That was 40 years ago.

We were both in our mid 20s then, but those once-endless summers of our youth have since given way to a frost-topped autumn that is moving inexorably to a wintry end.

Yet, late Wednesday morning outside the Assiniboine Park Pavilion, there he was again with a spring in his 65-year-old step and charming a crowd of all ages. Still full of energy and enthusiasm after all those years and jet-lagged miles. Which prompted me to consider something I've been wondering about since turning 65, the once-traditional age of retirement. When will our generation really get old, and when should we retire? Or should we?

Read
Thursday, May. 22, 2014

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
With an Idle No More banner as a backdrop, Prince Charles receives full military honours before leaving Winnipeg Wednesday.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
With an Idle No More banner as a backdrop, Prince Charles receives full military honours before leaving Winnipeg Wednesday.

Prince Charles and Camilla at the Manitoba Legislature

3 minute video Preview

Prince Charles and Camilla at the Manitoba Legislature

3 minute video Friday, May. 23, 2014

Final stop of the royal tour in Winnipeg had Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at the Manitoba Legislature. Before departing there were military honours for the Prince, including a 21-gun salute.

Read
Friday, May. 23, 2014

Putin, Hitler parallels are superficial: historians

Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Putin, Hitler parallels are superficial: historians

Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

TORONTO - Prominent public figures who draw comparisons between Russia's president and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler are spreading factual inaccuracies that may ultimately come back to haunt them, historians said Wednesday.

The scholars were among many who reacted with surprise when Prince Charles reportedly compared Vladimir Putin and Hitler during a recent visit to a Halifax museum.

Britain's Daily Mail reported the heir to the throne told a woman who lost relatives after Germany's invasion of Poland that Putin was "doing just about the same as Hitler." Russia recently annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.

The Prince of Wales was not alone in drawing such comparisons. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton drew a direct parallel between the two leaders at a speech to the University of California this past March.

Read
Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Prince Charles and wife Camilla look on in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Prince Charles and wife Camilla look on in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Legislature visit marks final stop of Royal Tour

By Mary Agnes Welch and Bruce Owen 7 minute read Preview

Legislature visit marks final stop of Royal Tour

By Mary Agnes Welch and Bruce Owen 7 minute read Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Prince Charles and Premier Greg Selinger opened Sara Riel's Place Bernadette Poirier in St. Boniface today, marking supportive housing for people with mental-health issues.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate the enormous amount of effort that so many people have put into this project," the Prince said at a reception of about 120 people.

"It's a wonderful example of so many people working together for such an imaginative and valuable project. I do hope it makes it makes an enormous difference to people's lives in this part of Winnipeg."

The 28-unit Place Bernadette on Kenny Street is operated by Sara Riel, a non-profit organization established by the Grey Nuns. It cost $8.9 million to build.

Read
Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla sit with Man. Lt. Governor Philip Lee at the Manitoba Legislature for the Order of Manitoba ceremony Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in Winnipeg.

Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla sit with Man. Lt. Governor Philip Lee at the Manitoba Legislature for the Order of Manitoba ceremony Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in Winnipeg.

Prince Charles known for frank views: experts

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Prince Charles known for frank views: experts

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

HALIFAX - A media report that Prince Charles likened Russia's president to Adolf Hitler during a private conversation in Halifax is the latest sign that the Prince of Wales is more inclined than his mother to discuss touchy political topics, says a royal expert.

Carolyn Harris of the University of Toronto says Canadians have grown used to the Queen's quiet and diplomatic comments to people she encounters.

But she says the remark attributed to Charles in Halifax adds to the growing impression the Duke of Cornwall is more controversial.

"This will become part of a wider public perception ... that he is not shy about expressing political views," Harris, who teaches history and studies the royals, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Read
Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in the rain at a Canadian Forces Base airport in Winnipeg Tuesday May 20, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in the rain at a Canadian Forces Base airport in Winnipeg Tuesday May 20, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Rain can’t dampen royal arrival

By Mary Agnes Welch 5 minute read Preview

Rain can’t dampen royal arrival

By Mary Agnes Welch 5 minute read Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

As he ducked out of the welcome party and into his waiting motorcade, Prince Charles stopped briefly to greet the small crowd gathered at Government House on Tuesday evening.

"You're very brave for standing here," Charles said to cheers.

About 25 people huddled in the damp waiting to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Wales and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, before and after the first official engagement of their day-long stop in Winnipeg.

Several live in nearby highrises and popped over hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

Read
Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are greeted by Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee at Government House on Tuesday.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press 
Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are greeted by Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee at Government House on Tuesday.

Prince Charles and Camilla tour Winnipeg

1 minute read Preview

Prince Charles and Camilla tour Winnipeg

1 minute read Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Winnipeg Tuesday night and have a busy schedule on Wednesday with stops all over town, as the couple visit, together and separately, Assiniboine Park Zoo to feed Hudson the polar bear, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, a downtown innovation hub and Red River College, among nearly a dozen locations.

Read
Wednesday, May. 21, 2014

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
An enthusiastic crowd waitied patiently for an appearance of Prince Charles and Camilla at the Legislature Wednesday evening.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press
An enthusiastic crowd waitied patiently for an appearance of Prince Charles and Camilla at the Legislature Wednesday evening.

Royal couple welcomed to Winnipeg

By Mary Agnes Welch 2 minute read Preview

Royal couple welcomed to Winnipeg

By Mary Agnes Welch 2 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

The duchess's dove grey coat matched the drizzle as the royal couple touched down in Winnipeg this evening.

Prince Charles and Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, arrived a little early at 17 Wing, greeted by a line of windswept local dignitaries. Among them, Heritage Minister Shelly Glover, Premier Greg Selinger, Lt. Gov. Philip Lee and Mayor Sam Katz, all trailed by a gaggle of reporters, military personnel and handlers.

There wasn't much time in the handshake line to chat, but Katz said he expects the couple to be much like the Queen and Prince Phillip, who visited several years ago.

"They were lovely, chatting about the city," said Katz.

Read
Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press

Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press

The royal schedule

3 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Where to find Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during their time in Winnipeg.

Your turn: The #royaltour on Twitter

1 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Manage to snap a selfie with Prince Charles and Camilla? Share it on Twitter with the hashtag #royaltour to get it in our live blog below, then sit back to take in what the Twitterverse has to say about the big visit.

U of M archives release never-seen-before footage of earlier royal visit

3 minute read Preview

U of M archives release never-seen-before footage of earlier royal visit

3 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will be photographed by every possible device imaginable — but for the very first time, University of Manitoba is making available never-before-seen old-fashioned newsreel camera film footage of a much earlier royal visit.

On May 24, 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Winnipeg as part of their Royal Tour of Canada, traveling by train across the nation. They were greeted in Winnipeg by an estimated 100,000 people, including thousands of Americans. And, while staying overnight at Government House in Winnipeg, the King made his longest ever radio broadcast to the British Empire.

In 2013, Archives and Special Collections of the University of Manitoba Libraries acquired some material that had belonged to R.A. Storch, a graduate in civil engineering and a teacher and vice-principal at Winnipeg schools. Storch died on Jan. 14, 1988 at the age of 84. Among his personal effects were the materials that piqued the interest of U of M archivist Shelley Sweeney: more than 250 historical photographs of Winnipeg and a handful of colour and black and white 16mm films.

Two of the films feature the visit of King George VI of England and Queen Elizabeth to Winnipeg in 1939, showing people preparing for the Queen and King to drive by, and related festivities. School groups of children are shown, including some from what appear to be Somerset School and Cecil Rhodes School, excitedly waiting to see the Royal Couple.

Read
Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

YouTube.com

YouTube.com

PM in town along with royal visitors

2 minute read Preview

PM in town along with royal visitors

2 minute read Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen will visit Winnipeg on Wednesday morning to join with the visiting royals, it was announced this morning.

The itinerary for the Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who arrive in Winnipeg tonight, did not previously include the Harpers.

But a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office this morning said the Harpers will be in Winnipeg with the royals on Wednesday at 10:25 a.m. at the Stevenson Campus of Red River College. They will meet young people at an Aerospace and Aviation in Manitoba Day event and tour. Both Harper and Prince Charles will speak at the event.

Read
Tuesday, May. 20, 2014

Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS Files
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Lauren will be in Winnipeg Wednesday.

Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS Files
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Lauren will be in Winnipeg Wednesday.

LOAD MORE