The Wessexes in Canada June 2005

[mybags]

I've been to Canada and it is absolutely beautiful. It's easy to imagine why Edward and Sophie feel so much at ease there.

[lashinka2002]

I live in Canada & I think its beautiful!!

[Alexandria]

I don't think we have a full itinerary of their visit yet. This was originally posted at the Glittering Royal Events MB, courtesy of Marianne.

Thursday, 2nd June
The Earl of Wessex will attend the City of Charlottetown Sesquicentennial Celebration, at the City Hall, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; will visit The Prince Edward Island Regiment and meet Regimental Veterans, Association Executives and Unit Senior Appointments, and visit the Regimental Museum at the Queen Charlotte Armoury, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; will attend the Young Canadian Challenge lunch and Gold Award Ceremony at Government House, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and will attend the Gold Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner for the Young Canadians Challenge at the Delta Brunswick Hotel, St. John, Newfoundland.

Friday, 3rd June
The Earl of Wessex will visit the Tim Horton Children's Foundation, for the Young Canadians Challege, Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia; will attend a Charter for Business Dinner, Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia; and will visit The Habitat for Humanity Building Site, Toronto.

Saturday, 4th June
The Earl of Wessex will lay a wreath at the Belleville Memorial Park, Trenton, Ontario; will inspect the cadets of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment and attend a lunch at the Belleville Armoury, Trenton, Ontario; and will observe the field exercise of the the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and attend a dinner at the Belleville Armoury, Trenton, Ontario.

Sunday, 5th June
The Earl of Wessex will attend Mattins at All Saint's Anglican Church, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; will attend the Gold Award Ceremony and lunch for the Young Canadians Challenge at Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Ontario; and will lay a wreath at the Peterborough City Hall Park, Peterborough, Ontario.

Monday, 6th June
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend a Charter for Business Dinner in Toronto; will attend the Aboriginal Welcome Ceremony in Queen's Park, West Portico, Ontario; will attend the re-dedication of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital, Toronto; will attend the launch of the TD Waterhouse Youth Initiative at The Wellesley Community Centre, Bhin Rana, Ontario; and will attend the opening of the new office of Hunter, Keilty, Muntz and Beatty in Toronto, Ontario.

Tuesday, 7th June
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend the TD Bank Financial Group Sesquicentennial Celebration at the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, Toronto; will attend the Monarchist League and Loyal Societies Reception at The Spoke Club, Toronto; and will attend the Free The Children Social Science Fair at the CHUM-City Building, Toronto. Wednesday, 8th June
The Earl of Wessex will attend the Gold Award Ceremony and lunch for the Young Canadians Challenge at The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, and will attend the International Golf for Youth Tournament and Dinner at the Redtail Gold Club, St. Thomas.

[Squidgy]

Thanks Alexandria. And according to the palace website, Sophie will also be carrying out these engagements. It's kind of strange that their paths don't cross until June 6th - until that time, they are each doing their separate things in different parts of the province. I guess the tour organizers get more mileage out of them that way.

Source: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4129.asp

Friday, 3rd June

The Countess of Wessex will visit The Habitat for Humanity Building Site, Toronto, Canada.

Saturday, 4th June

The Countess of Wessex will visit the Jackson Triggs Winery, Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario, Canada. The Countess of Wessex Colonel in Chief Lincoln and Welland Regiment, will observe their field exercise and attend a lunch at the Haulage Road Exercise Site, Ontario, Canada.

The Countess of Wessex Colonel in Chief, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, attends a dinner at The Queen's Landing Hotel, Niagra-on-the Lake, Ontario, Canada.

Sunday, 5th June

The Countess of Wessex will attend the Celtic Communion Service at St George's Anglican Church, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. The Countess of Wessex Colonel in Chief, Lincoln and Welland Regiment, attends the Regimental Review at Montebello Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Countess of Wessex will attend The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association Mother and Daughter Tea, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Claire

I didn't think the forum would put up a thread for the Earl and Countess of Wessex's visit to Canada. It is a private visit, and although petty busy not that long.
But, thank you for helping me find links for House Wessex News Headlines. There are quite a lot. If you would like to see it.
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/ceg_20020/News.htm

I must say that I have been following Edward (Sophie) for a number of years now, and if there is one place that he really is happiest it has to be Canada. I've never been to Canada, but it must be a wonderful place.

Edward really does look very much at ease and happy in the last pic posted by Squidgy doesnt he?
And I think he has made the most frequent visits to Canada in the last couple of years than any other member of the royal family.
He seems to have inherited his mother and his grandmother's tendency to feel, as the Queen Mother once said, that Canada is "home away from home"
He also seems very down-to-earth. Im sure that helps a lot.
Im hoping to see more coverage in the press once he's in Toronto with Sophie.
I think the couple are supposed to be spending the weekend privately at an undisclosed location in Ontario. Im sure they'll enjoy the weather. Edward always seems to be here in the summer.

[Squidgy]

June 4 2005 Sophie visits the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in St. Catharines. Sophie is Colonel-in-chief of the regiment.

Photo: Ottawa Citizen

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Well royal visits to Canada by various children of the Queen aren't very high profile. Its not like the Queen's visit more than a week ago where many of her engagements were covered live. Prince Edward's visits are very frequent and are mentioned briefly on tv. I dont think I even kneew he was here in 2003 until someone on this board mentioned it.
Also it depends on whether there is more important political and local news happening, which is the case in Canada right now. Sophie isnt here yet. Once she is visible im sure things will pick up

sadly this true. after all the political nonsense here in Canada, some new on someone doing positive things would be refreshing.

[Alexandria]

Polfoto 04-06-2005 Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, speaks with an air force veteran at a ceremony in Belleville, Ont. Saturday June 4, 2005. The prince, who last year accepted the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Belleville-based Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, was in the city on his first visit to the regiment. (AP Photo/CP, Belleville Intelligencer-Luke Hendry)

[Squidgy]

From the St. Catharines Standard ... a little bit more about Sophie's visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines

By Don Fraser
St Catharines Standard
Local News - Tuesday, May 31, 2005

A training exercise, a church service and an investiture are among the events planned in St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake during a whirlwind royal tour this weekend.

Royal Family watchers may not have many chances to see Sophie, Countess of Wessex, however. All appearances, except one, are so far by invitation only.

The countess, who is married to Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward, is visiting Niagara as the new colonel-in-chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

The countess was appointed colonel-in-chief last Oct. 13, which was the same date Sir Isaac Brock fell during the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812.

She is also the first person to hold the appointment in the history of the storied regiment, which has been in the region for more than 200 years.

“This appointment is of historical importance for the Niagara region,” said Lt.-Col. Roy Dwyer, commanding officer of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. He spoke Monday at a media event held at the Lake Street Armoury in St. Catharines.

“The Countess of Wessex is extremely and genuinely interested in her forthcoming visit to the regiment and Niagara region,” said Dwyer. “The regiment itself is looking forward to her inclusion in our regimental family and a long association as our colonel-in-chief.”

The main event will be a public ceremony at St. Catharines’ Montebello Park Sunday morning in which the countess will be invested as the regiment’s colonel-in-chief. The Lincoln and Welland Veterans Association and two regiment-affiliated cadet corps will also participate.

All other events in her Niagara schedule are private and by invitation only. According to the regiment, her itinerary is also tentative.

On Saturday, she’ll be at a training exercise from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Homer Bridge area along the east bank of the Welland Canal.

According to a National Defence media release, the exercise will include at least one helicopter, blank ammunition, smoke canisters and other pyrotechnics.

The event is not public and Niagara Regional Police will be present to keep the people away from the training area.

Starting at about 3:15 p.m., the countess will attend a small civic reception at the old court house in Niagara-on-the-Lake, followed by a visit to Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery on Regional Road 55 from around 4 to 5 p.m.

“The visit to a winery I understand is a request from herself,” said Dwyer at the media conference. “She knows we are a wine-producing area and she’s very much interested in seeing the wineries.”

A regimental dinner will be held by the Lincoln and Welland Foundation at Queen’s Landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 7 p.m..

On Sunday at 10 a.m., she will attend a service at St. George’s Anglican Church on Church Street in St. Catharines.

The Montebello Park investiture and parade is open to the public. The ceremony starts at 10:45 a.m. and continues until about noon and may include a public walk by the countess. People are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and seat themselves before the event starts.

At the park, the countess will help dedicate an Ontario Heritage plaque to the late Colonel Graham Thomson Lyall, a member of 19th Lincoln Regiment — a predecessor to the Lincoln and Welland regiment. Lyall was awarded the Victoria Cross for heroic duty during the First World War.

The plaque will be installed in the Lake Street Armoury’s memorial garden.

The countess will not be joined in Niagara by her husband Prince Edward, who has public duties elsewhere in Ontario.

Dwyer said security for the weekend trip will include the countess’ own security detail, with general assistance from the RCMP, NRP and Scotland Yard.

“We are excited and we’re looking forward to the visit,” said St. Catharines Mayor Tim Rigby at the media conference.

“I’ve tried to learn the proper protocol and hopefully won’t embarrass everybody by stumbling behind her, or something of that nature.”


The following is the tentative Niagara itinerary for Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Times are approximate and subject to change. All events are private, except Sunday morning’s investiture and parade in Montebello Park.

Saturday, June 4

• Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Lincoln and Welland Regiment holds a field training exercise in the Homer Bridge area by the Welland Canal. The countess will attend the exercise and visit with the regiment.

• About 3:15 p.m., a small civic reception is to be held at the old court house in Niagara-on-the-Lake, followed by a trip to Jackson Triggs Estate Winery from 4 to 5 p.m.

• At 7 p.m., a regimental dinner, hosted by the Lincoln and Welland Foundation, takes place at Queen’s Landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Sunday, June 5

• At 10 a.m., the countess attends a service at St. George’s Anglican Church on Church Street in St. Catharines.

• From 10:45 a.m. until noon (approximately), the public investiture of the Countess of Wessex as colonel-in-chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and other ceremonies will take place at Montebello Park, St. Catharines. The countess may also do a public walk. People must be in the park before 10:45 a.m. and provide their own lawn chairs.

[mybags]

I've been to Niagra-on-the-Lake and I think it's a beautiful town. Sophie should thoroughly enjoy her time there.

[Squidgy]

June 3 2005 The Countess visiting a Habitat for Humanity construction site in Toronto.

Photo: CNW Photo Archive

[Squidgy]

Kendra at the Monarchist League Message Board (http://members.boardhost.com/monarchist/index.html) has posted some great photos of the Countess in St. Catharines today. I will post some of them here, since the message likely won't be up on their Board for long.

[bweir]

Originally Posted by Squidgy

Kendra at the Monarchist League Message Board (http://members.boardhost.com/monarchist/index.html) has posted some great photos of the Countess in St. Catharines today. I will post some of them here, since the message likely won't be up on their Board for long.

Apparently there is to be an Aboriginal welcome for TRH on the grounds of Queen's Park tomorrow (Monday) morning at 9:40. I think I'm going to get up early and head down.

[Humera]

thank you everyone for the pictures. Its too bad I saw nothing on tv.
Looks like Edward and Sophie had a busy weekend.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Squidgy

June 4 2005 Sophie visits the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in St. Catharines. Sophie is Colonel-in-chief of the regiment.

Photo: Ottawa Citizen

Love this picture!
thank you Squidgy:)

[Squidgy]

Originally Posted by bweir

Apparently there is to be an Aboriginal welcome for TRH on the grounds of Queen's Park tomorrow (Monday) morning at 9:40. I think I'm going to get up early and head down.

I hope you do go to see them Bweir ... and if you can, don't forget to take some pictures for your friends in this forum!

[Squidgy]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Love this picture!
thank you Squidgy:)

You are most welcome Humera. I didn't see anything on TV either, but was hoping that you would be able to magically find something, as you always do. It's really a shame that more publicity isn't being given to this visit. Somebody in this thread mentioned that it is a private visit, but when the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario announced the visit, he said it was a working visit. Also the palace website doesn't say anything about it being private. I guess our only hope is to see something from Toronto today (fingers crossed).