No stranger to Canada: Prince Philip’s visits through the years | CBC Information

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“Throughout the Diamond Jubilee celebrations [in 2012], the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh remained in the UK whereas their youngsters and grandchildren toured the world,” Toronto-based royal historian and blogger Carolyn Harris mentioned on the time. “So I feel a overseas go to from the Duke of Edinburgh at 91 was surprising.”

However given Philip’s feisty persona, dedication to his position and among the pursuits he confirmed through the years, his return to Canada — he made greater than 70 visits or stopovers between 1950 and 2013 — might not likely have been an entire shock.

The 2013 journey was billed as a personal working go to and was just a few days lengthy. 

However whereas he was right here, he was lastly in a position to decide up the insignias he had been awarded as companion of the Order of Canada and commander of the Order of Navy Advantage from David Johnston, then Canada’s governor common. 

Stephen Wallace, secretary to the Governor Basic, mentioned throughout the ceremony that Philip “has lengthy embodied dignity, loyalty and repair to others” and has helped advance the non-public achievement of younger Canadians by means of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Philip additionally introduced a brand new regimental color to the Petawawa, Ont.-based Third Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment on the grounds of Queen’s Park.

The brevity of that journey was not unprecedented. Philip made a number of brief jaunts to Canada by means of the years. 

“There have been visits associated to his charitable patronages, fundraising dinners for the World Wildlife Fund Canada or presenting Duke of Edinburgh awards or holding Commonwealth Research conferences to handle points all through the Commonwealth,” mentioned Harris. “So it is fascinating that he has been a really fixed presence in Canada prior to now 60 years.”

Philip’s longstanding curiosity in Canada and its navy forces was on show as early as 1951, mentioned Harris, when he accompanied Elizabeth, then inheritor to the throne and standing in for her ailing father, King George VI, on their first go to to the nation.

Prince Philip and the Queen arrive in downtown Toronto in 1951. 0:18

In a speech throughout that go to, Philip “commented that he admired that Canada had preserved its independence being so near a robust neighbour resembling america, and that Canada had developed a definite tradition and had its personal scientific innovators and cultural innovators,” mentioned Harris.

Philip’s “admiration” for the Canadian Forces dated to the Second World Battle, mentioned Harris. 

Philip, who gave up a naval profession at age 29 to help his spouse, put his personal wartime expertise entrance and centre in his 1951 speech to the Toronto Board of Commerce.

“Within the British Isles, the Canadian military will at all times be remembered for the safety they gave when invasion threatened and the gallantry [displayed] within the preventing in Italy and North Europe. I can communicate from private expertise as I used to be serving in a destroyer off the seashores at Sicily when the Canadian division landed there in 1943.”

‘By no means cross a fault’

Philip was made colonel-in-chief of the Royal Canadian Regiment on Dec. 8, 1953, taking over a job that had been vacant for greater than a decade. He introduced the third Battalion’s first colors on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 1973.

That flag was ripped when its show case was broken in 2006. For the troopers who watched Philip current the brand new heavy silk tapestry at Queen’s Park throughout that 2013 go to, his presence was vital.

“For us, as a regiment, to have a member of the Royal Household come to do that for us is necessary,” mentioned Lt.-Col. David Fast, commanding officer of the third Battalion.

Philip, Fast steered, additionally embodied the qualities which can be mirrored within the battalion’s slogan: “By no means cross a fault.”

“From what I perceive, definitely what the favored media experiences, that is precisely the type of man the Duke of Edinburgh is. So I am actually excited to fulfill a man that is lived his entire life in the identical method as this regiment believes in.”

Robert Finch, chair of the Monarchist League of Canada, mentioned Philip’s closing go to to Canada was a testomony to his dedication to Canada, and to his stamina.

“I actually thought that his age and up to date well being considerations would have made such a go to unattainable,” Finch mentioned in an e mail.

“However how incorrect I used to be. And I guess he will get a kick out of individuals speaking about his well being and age, [and] most likely says to himself, ‘I will present them.'”

Politics and the prince

The Duke of Edinburgh at all times stored his eye on Canadian politics, too, and in contrast to his spouse, he sometimes had one thing to say publicly.

“When there was hostility to the monarchy popping out of French Canada,” mentioned royal historian Harris, “Prince Philip spoke fairly frankly that if there was going to be a break between Canada and the monarchy, to let or not it’s an amicable one.”

At that time, in 1976, Philip made one of many controversial remarks he turned recognized for.

WATCH | Prince Philip made a solo swing by means of Canada in 1954:

Prince Philip made a 20-day go to to Canada on his personal in 1954, attending the British Empire and Commonwealth Video games in Vancouver and visiting the Far North. 1:07

“It was on the finish of these feedback that he made the comment: ‘We do not come right here for our well being; we are able to consider different methods of spending our time,’ ” mentioned Harris.

She argued that the comment, usually thought-about considered one of Philip’s verbal fake pas, was taken out of context.

“It was inside the context of him speaking about how the monarchy was there to serve the folks and could be there so long as the folks needed.

“In his place because the Queen’s consort, Prince Philip’s been in a position to communicate far more frankly, whereas the Queen as an neutral constitutional monarch can not remark publicly about Canadian politics.”