Skip to content

Prince Charles and Camilla honour troops on Canada tour

Reuters Prince Charles and Camilla at the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in TrentonReuters
The couple paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in Trenton

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have paid tribute to Canadian soldiers who died in Afghanistan.

On the second day of their tour, Charles and Camilla laid a wreath at a memorial in Trenton, Ontario, alongside a handwritten note by the prince.

In total 158, people from Canada died in the conflict which started in 2001.

On Saturday, the final day of the trip, Charles and Camilla will join celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the formation of modern Canada.

The previous day, the royal couple met veterans and serving members of the armed forces, before taking part in a minute's silence to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.

Getty Images The couple lay a wreath at the Afghanistan memorialGetty Images
Prince Charles and Camilla laid a wreath in the shape of the Prince of Wales' feathers
Getty Images Prince Charles meets military families in CanadaGetty Images
Before meeting military families on the base in Trenton
Getty Images Prince Charles and Camilla at the Trenton military baseGetty Images
They met officers and soldiers from all ranks including veterans

At the Trenton Canadian Forces base, the duchess met personnel and their families from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. She is the unit's colonel-in-chief.

One of them was Adam de Bartok, a warrant officer who completed several tours of Afghanistan.

He said: "She asked my wife whether she sat at home and worried. I said, 'It goes with the territory.'

"I think she understood, she's from a military family. She said 'that's why you're so wonderful' and she was proud to wear the [regiment's] brooch.

"It was a huge honour to actually meet her in person, we have her photograph everywhere."

Meanwhile, Prince Charles saw a search and rescue operation by the soldiers.

Reuters The military show Charles a mock search and rescue operationReuters
A mock search and rescue operation was carried out for the prince's benefit
Reuters Charles speaks to people at the Trenton military baseReuters
He then spoke to members of the team who took part

The couple began the tour with a visit to an Inuit settlement near the Arctic circle on Thursday.

They listened to traditional throat singing performed by local people and watched craft demonstrations involving silver jewellery.

The prince and duchess both tried on a pair of snow goggles, to which the prince joked to his wife: "They match your sparkling personality."

Reuters Prince Charles wearing the silver snow gogglesReuters
On day one, Charles found humour in the silver creation
Reuters Prince Charles enjoyed a community feast in Sylvia Grinnell ParkReuters
The couple also enjoyed a community feast in Sylvia Grinnell Park
Getty Images Traditional throat singers perform for the royal coupleGetty Images
And listened to traditional throat singers

The couple will end their three-day trip by joining celebrations in the capital Ottawa for Canada Day, which marks the foundation of the Canadian Confederation in 1867.

U2's Bono and the Edge, who are touring in the country, will form part of the events at Ottawa's Parliament Hill, which are expected to attract more than 400,000 spectators.