Crosbie welcomes Prince Charles and Camilla in sealskin
From The Globe and Mail
Published on Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009 10:03AM EST
John Crosbie, the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland, greeted Britain's royal couple today in a sealskin coat, a move that could spark new controversy among Europeans already upset over a rabbit stole sported earlier by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Charles and his wife were in Newfoundland early in the day as part of an 11-day royal tour, the first official visit by Camilla. They left for Toronto in the late morning after attending a series of events. The first was the planting of two oak trees at Government House, where they were welcomed by Mr. Crosbie wearing his sealskin coat.
Mr. Crosbie swapped it for a sombre blue overcoat by the next event, but photos of the sealskin garment will likely be a sore point with those who see the hunt as an antiquated and barbaric ritual.
It was a rare moment on an otherwise meticulously organized royal tour, which to date has been marked more by ambivalence than criticism. At many venues there have been small crowds and even the British press have noted the "chilly reception."
Mr Crosbie called the coat a statement of support for the seal hunt, saying derisively that some Canadians seem to think meat is manufactured in the back of a supermarket. Speaking to reporters shortly after the royals left, Mr Crobie said that they had taken the garment in stride.
The crowd was a bit larger at the war memorial late this morning - numbering in the low hundreds - as Prince Charles laid a wreath. Wearing a full row of medals, he had Canadian poppy below the British one on his lapel to symbolize both countries dead in Afghanistan.
Mr. Crosbie declared the royal visit a success, despite thin crowds, because he said people felt like they actually had a chance to see the prince and meet Camilla, up close and personal.
After arriving in Toronto, the couple will have a private meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Later, Camilla will visit the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she will be treated to a brief performance.
The couple will make several stops in Ontario, British Columbia and Montreal before ending their 11-day tour Nov. 12 in Ottawa.
