Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, had a busy schedule on their last day in Canada, and a controversy following them. Their visits to the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island ended yesterday and they flew to Winnipeg, Manitoba last night.
Private comment comparing Vladimir Putin to Hitler, makes global headlines
The controversy originated in Nova Scotia where the Prince had a private conversation with one of the volunteers at Halifax’s Pier 21, the National Immigration Museum, on Monday. When the woman shared her family history having to flee Poland in fear of Hitler, Prince Charles reportedly responded saying it’s happening again with Vladimir Putin.
A reporter who spoke to the woman following the chat, asked what the Prince had said, and now it’s on the public record. Prince Charles is being defended as a royal who often speaks his mind, when British Royalty generally don’t.
The Prince may be able to leave Canada behind this evening when the Royal couple board a flight back to England, but the comment may make for an awkward encounter with Vladimir Putin in Normandy, France, at the 70th Anniversary commemoration of D-day in June.
Meanwhile, the Prince became more familiar with two Canadian bears.
The first, was the much-loved Winnie the Pooh. Memorabilia of all sorts is featured in a gallery in Assiniboine Park.
The connection goes back to the Royal Canadian Army veterinarian, Harry Colebourn, who donated a bear cub named “Winnie” (for his hometown of Winnipeg) to the London Zoo. The little black bear was later the inspiration for A.A. Milne‘s famous children’s book character.
The second bear was very real, and hungry. Hudson, the 600 pound, two year-old orphaned polar bear, is one of four in the new International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
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