The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall toured Canada last week and paid a visit to the Distillery Historic District in Toronto on May 22nd, the second day of their Canadian tour.
Charles and Camilla waved to visitors and met some business owners, and shook over two hundred and eighty hands during their brief tour of the grounds.
For many Toronto residents and commoners from all across the Province of Ontario, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with two of the most celebrated members of the British Royal Family.
The crowd’s attention seemed evenly split, with camera phones aimed at both royals as they ambled down the walkway.
The couple had divided earlier in the day to attend separate events and they chose to met up again in the Distillery for a reception hosted by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty inside the historic Fermenting Cellar building located on the south west corner of the property. It was here where throngs of eager supporters awaited their arrival and where the crowd was the loudest.
Prince Charles must have really enjoyed seeing the old buildings that comprise the Distillery District, which is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Canada. The prince is known to be rather fond of Victorian architecture and champions the conservation of historic buildings in the UK and throughout the colonies; indeed he produced a book on the subject called A Vision of Britain (1989).
During the hard-to-attend presentation inside The Fermenting Cellar, Premier Dalton McGuinty thanked Charles and Camilla for their work, and went on to say how inspirational they are and how they continue to be an example for Canadians and for all people around the world.
“When you visit us, we clearly see for ourselves your dedication to humanitarian causes and your unflagging service to others,” McGuinty said.
The prince is also well known for his humanitarian and social concerns; he sponsors The Prince’s Charities and is patron of many other charitable and arts organisations. For many years, the Prince has championed organic farming and sought to raise world awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment, such as climate change.
The Royal Visit began Monday in New Brunswick and wrapped up Wednesday in Regina with more presentations and hubbub in connection with the Queen’s upcoming Diamond Jubilee.