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Each few years, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands has taken half in commemorations in Canada of the position it performed within the Netherlands’ liberation through the Second World Warfare.
Margriet supposed to be again in Canada later this month. Whereas she has needed to cancel her go to for medical causes, her devotion to these commemorations stays sturdy.
“Princess Margriet has at all times emphasised the decisive position that Canada and the Canadians performed in restoring her nation’s freedom,” the Royal Home of the Netherlands said on its website this week.
“Partly for that reason, the couple has taken half nearly each 5 years in commemorations and celebrations in Canada.”
Margriet has her personal deeply private connection to Canada — she was born in 1943 in Ottawa Civic Hospital. A federal proclamation declared the maternity ward extraterritorial, making certain the brand new princess would solely be a Dutch — and never additionally a Canadian — citizen.
“On the outset of the Second World Warfare, when Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands, Canada prolonged a beneficiant hospitality to my mom and sisters, providing a secure haven in Ottawa,” Princess Margriet said in a video message to the Ottawa Hospital final yr.
“Naturally, I’ve at all times felt a really sturdy connection to the nation and metropolis of my start.”
After the household returned to the Netherlands, Margriet’s mom, Queen Juliana, and the Dutch authorities despatched 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada as thanks for each the refuge provided to them and the position of Canadians within the nation’s liberation in 1945 (one thing that can also be being commemorated over the following few days within the Netherlands).
“We within the Netherlands will at all times take heed to the sacrifices made by so many younger Canadians for our sake, for our liberty, which is why my nation has additionally added to the annual custom of sending tulip bulbs,” Margriet mentioned in her video message.
Margriet and her household weren’t the one European royals who discovered refuge in Canada within the Forties.
“There have by no means been so many members of European royal homes in Canada concurrently there was through the Second World Warfare,” Toronto-based royal writer and historian Carolyn Harris mentioned in an interview.
French-speaking royalty got here to Quebec, together with Zita of Bourbon-Parma, the previous empress of Austria, and her kids, who had settled in Belgium however fled from there to Canada after the German invasion of that nation.
Zita’s sister-in-law, Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg, additionally got here to Quebec through the battle along with her six kids.
“For French-speaking royalty, there was a selected enchantment to residing in Quebec the place there can be Catholic faculties in French and there can be French-speaking post-secondary establishments,” mentioned Harris.
The present crown prince of Luxembourg, Guillaume, referenced that refuge throughout a commerce go to to Toronto three years in the past.
“I’ve personally a deep respect and a honest gratitude in the direction of the Canadian tradition of welcome, not the least as a result of it provided shelter to my household through the darkest hours of our modern historical past,” he mentioned.
The refuge that Canada provided to European royals was a results of a number of elements.
One was having royalty at Rideau Corridor in Ottawa. The Earl of Athlone, an uncle of King George VI, served as governor basic from 1940 to 1946. His spouse, Princess Alice, the Countess of Athlone, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria on her father’s facet.
“On her mom’s facet, she was a primary cousin of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands,” mentioned Harris.
The moms of Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, had been sisters, added Harris, “in order that they had been fairly shut and so the Athlones personally appeared to have co-ordinated there being refuge and housing for members of those numerous royal households.”
The presence of European royals in Canada through the Second World Warfare has led to heat and lasting relations between their international locations and Canada.
“Princess Margriet, though she solely has Dutch citizenship … grew to become a residing hyperlink between Canada and the Netherlands. She has visited Canada for quite a few tulip festivals in Ottawa, for exhibitions of Dutch Golden Age artwork at Canadian artwork galleries such because the AGO, when KLM Direct flights had been launched from Toronto,” mentioned Harris.
“Between Luxembourg and Quebec, there are lots of shut financial and cultural hyperlinks and cultural exchanges which have taken place.”
Such relationships might have additional implications now, given the geopolitics of the world.
Canadian academics are taking college students to the Netherlands to stroll the identical floor as troopers from their hometowns who helped liberate the nation from German occupation in 1945 — making historical past really feel actual for a era born many years after the battle.
“We see the significance of excellent will and heat relations between totally different international locations at a time when the US is undermining its personal commerce relationships with totally different international locations world wide,” mentioned Harris.
“So Canada actually has the potential to construct on these heat relationships with Luxembourg, the Netherlands … and different international locations throughout Europe, to forge new commerce and cultural connections at a time when Canada is seeking to diversify its vary of commerce companions throughout a time of rising tensions with the US.”
King Charles will come to Canada, ship throne speech
Considered one of our pals in CBC’s politics bureau, Michael Woods, had this story from Ottawa on Friday, with recordsdata from Rosemary Barton and J.P. Tasker.
King Charles will journey to Canada later this month and ship the speech from the throne on Could 27.
“This historic honour matches the load of our instances,” Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned Friday as he introduced the information. He added that Queen Camilla would be a part of the go to.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon issued a press release confirming the royal go to on Could 26 and 27.
“Whit [Fraser, Simon’s husband] and I can be delighted to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Canada. Our Canadian id is deeply rooted in our structure and this go to highlights the enduring relationship between Canada and the Crown,” she mentioned.
“Now, greater than ever, we have to come collectively to make sure a future that builds on our shared world values of democracy, equality and peace.”
Each new session of Parliament is opened by a throne speech, a doc that lays out the federal government’s anticipated path and targets, and the way it plans to realize them.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says the choice to have King Charles open the following session of Canada’s Parliament ‘clearly underscores’ the sovereignty of the nation.
When Charles and Carney met at Buckingham Palace earlier than the election, the prime minister requested the King about the opportunity of him coming to Canada to ship the throne speech to open the following Parliament, CBC Information has discovered.
That Charles would come to Canada to ship the speech from the throne “sends a transparent message relating to his dedication to the position of King of Canada,” Toronto-based royal writer and historian Carolyn Harris mentioned by way of e mail.
A lot consideration has centered in latest weeks on Charles’s position as head of state of Canada, notably within the face of repeated taunts from U.S. President Donald Trump about it changing into the 51st state.
“It appears pretty doubtless that the present state of relations between Canada and the US formed the choice to not solely have the go to so quickly but in addition for it to contain the opening of Parliament,” Justin Vovk, a royal historian and member of the advisory Board of the Institute for the Examine of the Crown in Canada, mentioned by way of e mail.
“Mark Carney ran his marketing campaign on a largely anti-Trump platform and reiterated that Canada will at all times stay sovereign, impartial and free. Having Charles assume his place on the centre of our parliamentary establishments is a transparent sign of Canada’s distinctive political and nationwide id in comparison with our neighbours to the south.”
Those that watch Charles intently saw an increase in signals and royal symbolism in help of Canada because it confronted that repeated rhetoric.
Charles additionally referenced his position as “King of Canada” throughout an handle lately to the Italian parliament, a rare statement — notably coming because it did in a world, non-Commonwealth setting.
For the primary time ever, the sovereign opens Canadian parliament. (Footage is black and white.)
The opening of Canada’s new Parliament gives an “supreme alternative” for a go to from Charles, who has not but come to the nation as monarch, mentioned Harris.
“President Trump’s feedback about Canada changing into the 51st state, nonetheless, have elevated the political significance of King Charles enterprise official engagements as King of Canada.”
The King delivering the throne speech in Ottawa additionally follows historic precedent, she mentioned.
“Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament throughout her first go to to Canada as a reigning monarch in 1957.”
The final time the speech was really learn by Canada’s head of state was when Queen Elizabeth delivered it in 1977.
Simon’s assertion mentioned the royal go to’s detailed itinerary can be revealed at a later date by the Division of Canadian Heritage.
At two days, will probably be a brief go to, however that, too, has precedent.
“Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 go to to Canada to open Parliament was additionally fairly quick,” mentioned Harris.
Different elements and logistics doubtless performed into the timing, she added.
“The particular dates of the go to could have been organized fairly rapidly after the election, and royal schedules are set lengthy prematurely,” mentioned Harris.
“There could also be an extended Canadian royal tour scheduled sooner or later when there may be extra time for planning and preparation. King Charles III’s most cancers therapy additionally limits alternatives for in depth royal excursions, as demonstrated by his go to to Australia and Samoa, which didn’t embody New Zealand.”
It will likely be the King’s twentieth go to to Canada, and the Queen’s fifth. Their final go to was in Could 2022, when Charles was nonetheless the Prince of Wales.
An opportunity encounter with the King and Queen
Not lengthy after King Charles spoke of his role as Canada’s head of state whereas addressing the Italian parliament, three Canadian vacationers had a serendipitous encounter with the monarch and his spouse.
Erika Taylor, Sarah Lynch and Amy Dunham had been on vacation in Rome. The longtime pals from Calgary had been taking within the calm round them within the Everlasting Metropolis on April 9 after they observed indicators that one thing was about to occur shut by.
“We had been to the Pantheon within the morning, after which we went as much as parliament and it was just about empty however … we observed the British flag was flying subsequent to the Italian flag,” Taylor mentioned.
Chatting with journalists who had been there gave the Canadians a way of what was up, and the place King Charles and Queen Camilla can be after he had spoken within the Italian parliament.
“We knew the place they had been going to stroll. And … we had been speaking and we mentioned I wager in the event that they see a Canadian flag, they will cease, as a result of they will know we’re pleasant…. And so Amy’s recording and I am looking on my telephone for an image of the Canadian flag. I discover one, get it up, maintain it up,” mentioned Taylor.
Canadian vacationers shake arms with King Charles and Queen Camilla as they stroll down a road close to the Italian parliament on their twentieth marriage ceremony anniversary.
Charles and Camilla did certainly move their method, and the Canadians shook their arms and took photographs and video of their fleeting royal encounter.
“They simply appeared very comfy and so they simply appeared very nice, to be sincere,” mentioned Lynch. “It was very thrilling.”
It was additionally slightly surreal.
“We had been all simply form of sitting there: ‘Did we simply meet the King and Queen of England? What simply occurred? We’re in Italy.’ After which they got here strolling again and we obtained to see then once more,” mentioned Taylor.
The buddies hadn’t ever actually talked amongst themselves in regards to the royals, however discovered themselves united of their appreciation of the sudden alternative to see Charles and Camilla so intently.
Taylor sees Charles as one of many “most knowledgeable, educated folks on the planet, particularly in terms of diplomacy and historical past,” and one who desires to talk out for issues he’s captivated with, such because the surroundings. However he is additionally somebody who is maybe “slightly bit constrained by his position” in sharing his opinions.
The possibility encounter additionally provided the Calgary pals a reminder of the advantage of permitting your self — notably while you journey — to be open to no matter new expertise would possibly come your method.
“I believe actually at the present time, once we’re so over-scheduled and so busy, these superb issues occur while you simply dwell within the second, actually, and also you reap the benefits of these alternatives,” mentioned Lynch.
“This journey was very impromptu. We did not have any scheduled plans after which we simply ended up with this actually superb encounter…. It was an actual thrill to see them in individual. I believe they actually got here throughout very real, very nice.”
Image this — extra birthdays and an anniversary
Over one 10-day interval in the course of spring every year, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their kids have three household events to have fun: two birthdays and a marriage anniversary.
Photos had been launched in latest days to mark Prince Louis’s seventh birthday, William and Catherine’s 14th anniversary and Princess Charlotte’s tenth birthday.
The picture of a gap-toothed Louis, who turned seven on April 23, additionally got here with a behind-the-scenes video.
“That is attention-grabbing to see, as a result of when Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was present process most cancers therapy, there was such controversy about that {photograph} that was launched at Mom’s Day that had been digitally altered,” mentioned Harris.
“By displaying the behind-the-scenes for the picture shoot of Prince Louis’s birthday, it reinforces the authenticity of that second, that the general public is attending to see the place the pictures come from.”
William and Catherine had been in Scotland as they marked their 14th marriage ceremony anniversary. They hung out on the western isles of Mull and Iona over a two-day go to specializing in rural island communities. A shot of them searching over the water from Mull was posted on social media on their anniversary on Tuesday.
In that picture, Harris noticed how the private and political can typically be mixed for royalty.
“One of many main targets of King Charles III’s reign has been to maintain the UK united, as that is been one of many challenges post-Brexit,” she mentioned, noting amongst different issues that Scotland has had an independence referendum lately.
However Scotland additionally has private which means for William and Catherine — they met at college in Scotland, and reportedly visited Mull as college students.
“A few of these private selections — the place to journey for his or her marriage ceremony anniversary for William … very a lot intersect with … wider questions of the Royal Household’s relationship with all the United Kingdom,” Harris mentioned.
A photograph taken by Catherine of Charlotte throughout a go to to Cumbria, in northwestern England, earlier this yr was posted Friday to mark her tenth birthday.
Royally quotable
“Every prognosis, every new case, can be a frightening and at instances scary expertise for these people and their family members. However as one amongst these statistics myself, I can vouch for the truth that it may also be an expertise that brings into sharp focus the easiest of humanity. “
— King Charles, in a heartfelt message in recognition of community-based cancer support groups. Charles was recognized with an undisclosed type of most cancers in early 2024 and continues to bear therapy.
Royal reads
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Prince Harry told the BBC it was “inconceivable for me to take my household again to the U.Ok. safely” after he misplaced his authorized problem to the British authorities on Friday altering his safety preparations after he stepped down from royal duties. [CBC]
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Virginia Guiffre, the lady who accused Prince Andrew and different influential males of sexually exploiting her as a youngster trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has died. She was 41. [CBC]
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Considered one of Prince Andrew’s prized enterprise belongings was administered for 2 years by an organization managed by a controversial millionaire, the BBC revealed.
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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are calling for stronger protections for children from the dangers of social media, saying “sufficient shouldn’t be being carried out.” [BBC]
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Meghan used the title HRH on a card sent with a personal gift however not for any public objective, sources near her have mentioned. [BBC]
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