Columnists
Holding court
Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall, are coming to Wellington.
In a private and controlled event, the royal couple, their entourage and a handful of Canadian dignitaries, surrounded by security and a media scrum, will descend upon the parking lot of the Wellington United Church, shopping for local crafts and farm-fresh foods. They will meet with the United Church Women’s group as they core and hull strawberries in preparation for Wellington’s annual Canada Day strawberry social. They will look out over Lake Ontario to the south, and a public school the government may or may not close to the north. It will all be so very delightfully provincial for the pair, to be sure.
The question is, does this matter?
Charles is in succession for the Commonwealth throne. When his mother dies, he will become King Charles of England, and by extension, of Canada. His face could be on the coins and banknotes so few of us still use. His name would be on laws, public decrees and documents—like passports—that all Canadians need at some point in their lives. New Canadians—many of whom come from countries where monarchies are crushing, anti-democratic forces they have fled—will be compelled to pledge their allegiance to him in order to become Canadian citizens. So will our prime ministers, judges and members of our armed forces.
The monarchy of the Commonwealth is not a terrible force. It’s hardly a force at all. It is a nepotistic philanthropy, a lineage of kings and queens, once of great power, now maintaining relevance through money, celebrity status and pet causes that endear the public to it.
In Britain and Canada both, there are those who adore the monarchy, who would flock to Queen Elizabeth’s motorcade and who cooed over the birth of Prince George, future king of England—if the monarchy outlives his dad. Their excitement over Charles and Camilla’s visit is understandable. But not more understandable than if some Hollywood power couple had chosen the town for a tour.
The visit will bring notoriety we’re already building. It will bring awareness about issues we already know we face. It will potentially bring money toward those causes, but one could only hope that money would be spread across the country if it comes, since the issues faced in Wellington are not unique.
When the announcement came that the royal couple were to be flown in to Trenton, the airbase to which many foreign dignitaries arrive, and travel to Ottawa with yet-to-be announced stops along the way, it was not unlikely the County would see a visit. This area has seen its fair share of press in the past five years, and aligns with Charles’s philanthropic interests—agriculture and seniors.
And as a part of Loyalist country, what more welcoming place than this for the waning monarchy?
But still, I struggle. The news value seems tenuous at best. A distraction. What is the value in this visit? Fame by association? The chance for a fan of the royals to catch a glimpse, from across the street, of the silver-haired future king?
I hope Charles and Camilla feel welcomed here. I hope, as some have cynically suggested, repairs to municipal properties those living here have struggled to get action on for years are finally taken care of.
I hope local fans of the royals get a thrill from their visit. Personally, I just don’t get it.
Comments (0)