6.11.09

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISITS CANADIAN NAVAL VESSEL HMCS HAIDA



THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAD A CRASH COURSE IN SEA WARFARE RECENTLY . . . AND LOOKED LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH THE EXPERIENCE. AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA, PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILA HAD THE CHANCE TO FIRE A NAVAL GUN ON THE HMCS HAIDA. IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT MULTI-TASKING THE DUCHESS TRIED TO COVER HERE EARS AND FLINCH AWAY FROM THE SOUND WHILE PULLING THE TRIGGER OF THE DESTROYER'S GUN, BUT SHE DISSOLVED INTO A FIT OF GIGGLES AS SHE TRIED TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM THE EAR-SPLITTING SOUND. SHE WAS SEEN LAUGHING AS THE PRINCE OF WALES HAD A GO AT FIRING THE GUN ON WHAT IS KNOWN AS 'THE FIGHTINGEST SHIP IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY'. DESPITE HER DISTASTE AT THE SOUND SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS HAVING FUN ON HER FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP TO CANADA. PRINCE CHARLES, HOWEVER, LOOKED LESS THAN IMPRESSED AT THE FUSS HIS WIFE WAS MAKING. THEIR GUN-TOTING ON THE SHIP, WHICH IS NOW USED AS A NAVAL MUSEUM AND SEA CADET TRADING VESSEL, IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS THE ROYAL COUPLE HAVE PLANNED AS PART OF THEIR TEN-DAY TOUR OF CANADA. THEY ALSO CALLED IN AT DUNDURN CASTLE, THE 72 ROOM HOME OF CAMILLA'S ANCESTOR SIR ALLAN MACNAB BUILT IN HAMILTON NEAR TORONTO. SIR ALLAN BECAME PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED PROVINCE OF CANADA IN 1854. ALTHOUGH IT IS CAMILLA'S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE COUNTRY OF HER ANCESTORS, IT IS PRINCE CHARLES' 15th VISIT. THE COUPLE HAVE ALREADY VISITED NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR AND HAVE MANY MORE ENGAGEMENTS BEFORE THEY LEAVE ON 12.NOVEMBER.

1 comment:

  1. Camilla has always been a feisty girl and he should have married her in 1973 (and saved us the entire tragedy of Lady Diana Spencer's ruined life).
    Love the fur-lined cape. Go Canada!

    ReplyDelete