Posted by Chris
on November 4, 2009, 11:29 am, in reply to "Re: Seeing Prince Charles in Toronto"
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The images of the 1939, 1951 and 1959 visits remain as proof that there were indeed grand public spectacles whereby the royals made speeches to the public and made appearances which were open to all.
In Toronto these usually took place at the foot of Bay street on the Steps of the old City Hall. There was often a massive stage erected on the site, flags, symbols etc. All Torontonians knew when and where to attended in order to see and hear the visiting Royal. Pictures show that thousands flocked the area.
Usually following the public event, the visiting Royals then had a private luncheon/meal inside City Hall with public officials/civil servants .. or moved on to another location to do so.
It seems to me that today, all events are "private" unless, as I posted earlier, you stand on a random street corner in the hopes of seeing a black car drive past you.
Ever since the 1860 visit of Albert-Edward, The Prince of Wales, to Canada and The United States, Royal visits were meant to be a display of civic pride. Royal homecomings were carried out in order to give all Canadians the opportunity to see and partake in the royal spectacle.
Today, such is simply not the case. The unconnected/average Canadian has very little access and thus no opportunity to honour The Prince and The Duchess.
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