Following the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to his beau of eight years, Kate Middleton, in November, Prime Minister Stephen Harper invited the happy couple to Canada following their April nuptials. Surprisingly, the royal couple has accepted the Prime Minister's offer and are now slated to make their first official visit to Canada in June—a visit which also marks their first official overseas stopover as a couple. Travelling from Atlantic Canada to the West Coast (and even taking a quick trip to the Artic!), the couple’s presence will no doubt draw crowds of Canadian admirers and political loyalists—perhaps even larger crowds than the Prince’s grandmother attracted only a year ago.
When I heard Prince William and his fiancée were coming to Canada, I couldn’t help but feel excited; I even quietly hoped they would make an appearance in Toronto. Though I don’t love the fact that Canada remains a constitutional monarchy (The Queen is seriously our Head of State? Really?), the prospect of British royalty visiting Canada seemed an exhilarating one. I began to think: You know, it really isn’t so horrible that Canada is still traditionally tied to Britain. Our colonial history is the reason Canada is the country it is today, and I happen to like that country! Canada’s British history also makes us different from Americans; a plus, since I’d rather be affiliated with Britain than the United States.
Now I wonder: If a critic like myself was able to feel a glimmer of hope for our constitutional monarchy just because of William’s marriage to Kate, how many other critics will feel that way, too? Do all Canadians need is a fresh face to revive support for their constitutional system? With the possibility of a younger, more modern prince becoming figure-head of Canada, will more citizens become enamoured by our constitutional monarchy? I am very curious to see if support fluctuates following the royal couple’s visit to Canada.
In closing, I would like to make it known that I won’t protest Prince William’s face replacing Queen Elizabeth’s on our coins. ;)
Read more about the royal couple’s visit @ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/15/prince-william-kate-middleton-canada-visit.html#ixzz1E5YBovCS
ReplyDeleteI don't care. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of the people that cannot stand the fact that Canada is still a constitutional monarchy and has ties to the British Crown. To me, it just seems so horrible archaic. While in actuality it really isn't anything more than a formality, it is one that I could do away with. Time have changed and having Canada still connected to the British Crown should be done away with.
I'm taking the wedding as just another celebrity wedding. And, as with most celebrity weddings, I will probably look at the pictures...but not going to get all excited.
To be honest, this wedding really has me excited. I find this interesting because I am really not a royal family follower, nor am I particularly for or against Canada being connected to the British Crown. Like you said Kate, I would much rather be part of a country which is connected to Britain rather than the US, so I am fine with Canada being a constitutional monarchy. All I can say about this is that Prince William on our coins will be a lovely change, however, if I had my way, it would be Harry's.
ReplyDelete