Posted by Ian McKechnie on November 9, 2009, 3:47 pm
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The Prince of Wales will be staying at Rideau Hall for most of this week. I wonder how this will go over, considering the head of state debate and the revelation of Mr. Ignatieff's seventeen year-old article regarding the state of modern monarchy. One thing I have noticed about this tour is the emphasis politicians have been putting upon the "British connection." Indeed, it is interesting to note that while the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have been emphasising their Canadian cultural roles (i.e. the wearing of a Canadian poppy and the depth of interest in Canadian activities) governments seem to be projecting back on to their Royal Highnesses the notion that they are merely British figures here to celebrate exclusively British achievements. Needless to say, this must amuse the Royal Family.
There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but the monarchy in its Canadian context surely means a whole lot more than what is commonly associated with it. The test will come, I think, when Her Excellency delivers a speech at Wednesday's dinner; either she will focus on the modern monarchy and its current role in Canada, or she will emphasise the historic monarchy as an institution that was once glorious but is now past its prime.
I do feel a lot of British sentiment personally, but I can certainly understand why some show dislike or indifference towards the Crown. The Royal Family has, for a long time, tried to project an image of themselves that will appeal to the Canadian "culture" (whatever that may be), but governments have attempted to cast the monarchy as being nothing more than a static museum artefact with little practical application in modern Canada.
Maybe Tim Horton's should become be given Royal patronage, or perhaps Canada should manufacture its own crown for use by the Sovereign when he or she opens Parliament. The Queen and the institution she represents, is not forcing upon Canadians a "British" policy, as it is thought by some:
"Listen royalists - this is a free country and Canadians have the right to say whatever they want about the british monarchy in Canada. And if you royalists do not like it take your union jacks and move back to the UK Canada is for Canadians. The vast majority of Canadians are not of wasp heritage and the british monarchy is not part of their heritage. Just as the Canadian flag replaced the Red Ensign because it nolonger reflected Canadian relality the british monarchy must go because 70% of Canadians are not british."
Might I add that Britain is almost in the same boat as Canada? Would not immigration rates in Europe mean that the "vast majority" of Britons are not "British?"
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