While out and about in La Conner, Washington, I stumbled upon a little antique store. I had spotted a familiar photo in the window – it was King George VI with Queen Elizabeth and the little princesses. Intrigued, I went inside.
Due to the close proximity of Canada, the store had many small royal items, several of which were the Illustrated London News. I purchased three: Read more…
“No offence, Prince, but our ties to the monarchy should end,” says Jeffrey Simpson of Canada’s Globe and Mail.
Mr. Simpson offers up a summary of the excellent relations between Canada and the UK and even expresses respect and admiration for the Queen. When it’s Charles’ turn for the throne, however, Simpson says Canada will probably say farewell.
“[...]the issue is less about Charles himself, although personalities cannot be removed from public matters, as about the appropriateness and the fit of the British monarchy – and it is a British institution, no matter what its clangorous defenders say in Canada – for contemporary Canadian realities.
Our governments generally agree on world matters – climate change excepted these days. We are fighting together, as we have in the past. We share the more sensitive intelligence information, which we do with few others. The number of Canadians with family ties to Britain and vice versa is considerable and valuable. We trade with each other, talk sensibly to each other, work together. Few relations for Canada are as free and easy as with Britain. But they are British, and we are Canadians. That is not a statement of threat or disapproval or arrogance, but rather of fact.”
Will Canada truly say farewell, or will King Charles have a chance to see his face on the Loonie?
Today we celebrate the union of the British North American provinces under the name of Canada. The celebrating began with a formal flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill.
A proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, formed the British North American provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st, 1868.
Happy birthday!
Bon Anniversaire!
Mr. Rafal Heydel-Mankoo, of the Monarchist League of Canada, debates with J.J. McCollough of Citizens for a Canadian Republic. Does Canada need the monarchy? Watch here, and then give your thoughts in the comments section here at this post.
Many Canadians I’ve spoken to DO relate to the Queen. They are very happy about their British ties. What I am wondering is if J.J. McCullough and others like him are more interested in simply having a Canadian-born or in residence head of state, rather than the massive upheaval of changing government structure.
For example, say Prince Harry (or even Peter Phillips or the Earl of Ulster), is given a post in Canada like John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll. The Duke was Governor General of Canada for several years. He was married to Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Louise, bringing the British monarchy and aristocracy directly into everyday Canadian life.
Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor-General of Canada, has written her memoirs. In it, she has decided to take “a swipe” at Her Majesty and even the late Queen Elizabeth.
Clarkson’s book, “Heart Matters”, was the opportunity to take the Queen to task publicly. Is it a political issue? A national issue? No. It was neither of those.
Let me save you your hard-earned money and reveal the plot now – it was jealousy.
According to the Daily Telegraph, “The Queen’s decision to powder her nose at the dinner table has so shocked the delicate sensibilities of Adrienne Clarkson, Canada’s former governor-general, that she has used her memoirs to draw attention to it. She also took a swipe at the Queen Mother’s use of mismatched china.”
It is Clarkson who should take lessons from the Queen; HM would never gripe about something so petty, least of all in her memoirs. Then again, the Queen has lived a remarkable life. She doesn’t need to use worthless filler.
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