The King and Queen's momentous trip to Ottawa featured a horticulture display, a falafel-making demonstration and a carriage ride down Wellington Street.
Horticulture tour, falafel demo, carriage procession mark momentous trip
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King Charles and Queen Camilla meet students after arriving at the Ottawa International Airport to start their royal visit on Monday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
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Ottawans came out in droves to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Camilla during the royal couple's momentous trip to the Canadian capital on Monday and Tuesday.
The reason for the voyage was to shore up Canada's sovereignty. It was an occasion steeped in pomp and circumstance, including the King's meetings with dignitaries and his delivery of the throne speech.
But for ordinary Ottawans, it was a rare chance to see royalty in the flesh — and a privileged one at that, given the King and Queen did not stop at any other Canadian cities.
Here's a look at their two days in the capital — and some of the people who came out to curtsy.
Monday
Charles and Camilla arrived at the Ottawa airport on Monday afternoon, their plane bearing the king's standard. The aircraft also featured a slogan underlining the trip's political undertones:
The standard of Charles III, King of Canada, flies from the cockpit window as King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at the Ottawa International Airport. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The couple disembarked and walked past a 25-member honour guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, for which Charles is colonel-in-chief.
The couple disembarked and walked past a 25-member honour guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, for which Charles is colonel-in-chief. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
WATCH | The Royals greet Prime Minister Mark Carney, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and other dignitaries:
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Canada
3 days ago
Duration 4:20
Greeted by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney and other dignitaries, King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off their short visit to the national capital region on Monday. Charles will deliver the speech from the throne on Tuesday.
Traditional drummers from Kitigan Zibi were there to mark the occasion too:
Charles and Camilla watch traditional singers from Kitigan Zibi after arriving at the Ottawa International Airport. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Among the first members of the public to shake the King's hand were students from a local school:
King Charles greets school children at the Ottawa International Airport. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Then it was off to Lansdowne Park, where a much larger crowd awaited the King and Queen:
Canadian flags were in abundance at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on Monday. (Emma Weller/CBC)
The farmers' market doesn't usually operate on Mondays, but hey, the Royals deserve a special display:
Royals-themed bread was also on hand. (Emma Weller/CBC)
Representatives from La Tablée des Chefs, a culinary school in Longueuil, Que., also got their moment:
King Charles meets members of La Tablée des Chefs at a community gathering at Lansdowne Park on Monday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
If you had a falafel demonstration on your royal visit bingo card, then you nailed it.
King Charles and Queen Camilla watch a falafel vendor in action during their visit to Lansdowne Park. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
Ditto maple syrup:
Charles and Camilla meet vendors from the Ottawa Farmers' Market at Lansdowne Park. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
A day before Charles's throne speech in the Senate, he participated at Lansdowne Park in a ceremonial puck drop with another Senator — former Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips — along with Ottawa Rapid FC soccer player Desiree Scott:
Charles participate in a ceremonial puck drop with street hockey captains Chris Phillips, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, and Desiree Scott of the Ottawa Rapid FC women's soccer team, during a visit to Lansdowne Park. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)WATCH / More moments from Lansdowne Park:
Royal watchers lined up at Lansdowne Park hoping to get a glimpse – and a photo – of King Charles
3 days ago
Duration 2:48
The King and Queen Camilla stopped off at Lansdowne after touching down in Ottawa before moving on to Rideau Hall for a ceremonial tree planting. The King will deliver the throne speech on Tuesday.
A noted horticulturalist, Charles naturally couldn't leave Lansdowne Park without being shown its civic gardens. There's Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe behind Camilla:
Charles is shown the civic gardens at Lansdowne Park, an example of Ottawa's horticultural heritage. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Next stop: Rideau Hall, the home of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, where Charles and Camilla spent Monday night. Another large crowd was there to meet the royal couple on the grounds outside the hall.
Visitors await a tree-planting ceremony on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Monday. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)WATCH | King Charles takes part in a tree planting ceremony at Rideau Hall:
King's blue beech tree a symbol of Canada's 'resilience'
3 days ago
Duration 1:55
King Charles and Queen Camilla placed soil over and watered a blue beech tree on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa Monday. The Governor General said the new tree represents 'a living symbol of resilience, adaptability and heritage.'
Tuesday
Charles and Camilla's horse carriage ride down Wellington Street to the Senate, where Charles delivered the throne speech, offered Ottawans another chance at spotting the couple.
Joanne Dix and her mom Laurette Parent where among those eagerly lining up in anticipation. Their post-procession plans? High tea at the Château Laurier, of course.
Joanne Dix, right, and her mother Laurette Parent lined up along Wellington Street Tuesday morning in anticipation of the King and Queen's procession. (Hallie Cotnam/CBC)
Also waiting by the side of the road was Tiffany Lepack of Arnprior, Ont., who pulled her kids out of the school for the occasion.
Tiffany Lepack brought her kids John and Lucy to see the royals on Tuesday. (Hallie Cotnam/CBC)
Charles and Camilla travelled in what's known as Canada's State Landau.
King Charles and Queen Camilla travel by Canada’s State Landau toward the Senate of Canada building in Ottawa on Tuesday. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
A French-language monarchist sign greeted the royal couple...
People hold flags and signs to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla during their royal visit to Ottawa on Tuesday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
...while elsewhere, a group served up Bloc Québécois-themed cookies:
The carriage ride came with pomp, circumstances — and cookies. (Raffy Boudjikanian/x)
Edward Wang said he was grateful the King came despite his ongoing treatment for cancer:
Edward Wang of Vancouver also waited on Wellingston Street. (Hallie Cotnam/CBC)
WATCH | King Charles and Queen Camilla parade to Parliament:
King Charles and Queen Camilla parade to Parliament
3 days ago
Duration 2:35
King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled in a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage through the Parliamentary precinct in Ottawa Tuesday ahead of the speech from the throne.
Thousands of royal watchers gathered downtown for one last glimpse of the King
2 days ago
Duration 2:11
King Charles and Queen Camilla rode along Wellington Street to the Senate in a horse-drawn carriage. The King then delivered the throne speech, launching the new session of Parliament.
Charles and Camilla waved to the crowd...
Charles and Camilla wave to the crowd in downtown Ottawa on Tuesday. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
...and finally arrived at the Senate...
Charles and Camilla arrive at the Senate of Canada Building in downtwon Ottawa where the King delivered the speech from the throne, launching a new session of Parliament. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
...where Charles gave his speech. He said he was heartened to see a revival of "national pride, unity and hope" in Canada.
'The true north is, indeed, strong and free,' says King Charles in throne speech
2 days ago
Duration 1:32
King Charles received a long round of applause on Tuesday in the Senate as he cited Canada's national anthem, saying the song reminds us, 'the true north is, indeed, strong and free.'
The couple concluded their trip with Charles placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.
Charles places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Tuesday before heading back to the airport and returning to the United Kingdom. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
With files from Emma Weller, Hallie Cotnam and The Canadian Press
