Royal visit to dockyard
Mary Ellen Green
Staff writer
VAdm Dean McFadden, Chief of the Maritime Staff, presents His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, with the Canadian Decoration for 32 years of service to the Canadian Forces. Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (right), vis
Photo by Cpl Pier-Adam Turcotte, Imaging Services Esquimalt
The weather was fittingly reminiscent of Great Britain when Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visited HMC Dockyard last Monday.
Under a light West Coast drizzle the royal couple stepped from their car to the warm reception from Chief of Maritime Staff, VAdm Dean McFadden; Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Tyrone Pile; and Jason Kenney, Federal Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Once acquainted, they made the brief walk to the dais at Duntze Head, clasping the hands of onlookers along the way.
Hundreds of DND employees and their families lined Hospital Road to Duntze Head to get a glimpse of royalty on the last day of their B.C. tour.
Dressed for the first time in a Canadian Navy Vice Admiral's uniform, the next heir to the British throne listened earnestly as RAdm Pile, VAdm McFadden and Senator Kenny addressed the couple and the crowd.
The event was in honour of the Canadian Navy's upcoming 100th anniversary. On May 4, 1910, the Canadian Naval Service Act was written, creating the Royal Canadian Navy. Six months later Esquimalt Dockyard was officially transferred from British to Canadian command.
The royal visit marked a number of firsts at the naval base. The recently consecrated replacement Queen's Colour paraded for the first time. The Canadian Naval Centennial flag made its debut on the masthead at Duntze Head, and Prince Charles accepted the second clasp to his Canadian Decoration.
"This morning, I'd like to recognize another significant milestone. It was in 1977 that you accepted an appointment as the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Regiment of Canada. It is with great pleasure that I now present to you the second clasp of the Canadian Forces Decoration in recognition of your 32 years of honorary service to the Canadian Forces," said VAdm McFadden.
The Prince of Wales then gave an unscheduled, improvised address.
"I cannot tell you how touched and honoured I am to be given the clasp to the Canadian medal that I have, that I wear with great pride all the time," said Prince Charles.
"It is the greatest possible privilege to wear the Canadian Navy uniform and to be made a Vice Admiral. I know how busy you all are, and I cannot properly thank you enough for the service you provide. I salute you for all the work you carry out and wish you every possible success and good fortune in the future."
With that, the Canadian Naval Centennial flag was hoisted and RAdm Pile took the salute as HMCS Winnipeg sailed past.
The ceremony concluded with the national anthem and the royal couple made their way to the Admiral's residence for a short reception.
Before entering the reception tent on the Admiral's lawn, The Prince of Wales greeted three veterans from the Vancouver Island Chief and Petty Officers Association: president Dave Logie, first vice-president Fred Kirke and treasurer Bill Smith. The three men presented him with a British Oak sapling that will be one of 100 planted by the association at Duntze Head in recognition of the Canadian Naval Centennial.
After the reception, the royal couple made their way by motorcade to the Victoria International Airport where they boarded a flight to Ottawa to participate in Remembrance Day celebrations in our nation's capital.
