Prince Charles‘s official visit to Canada has been marred by anti-monarchy protests as a group of Quebec nationalists clashed with riot police during a demonstration in Montreal.
Thegroup staged a sit-in protest outside the regimental hall of the BlackWatch of Canada last night. More than 100 protesters held ademonstration as Charles, who is colonel-in-chief of the regiment, wasdue to present new regimental colours. The arrival of the prince andCamilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, was delayed by 40minutes as police cleared the streets.
Waving the provincial flagof Quebec and anti-royal placards, protesters chanted “Majesty go home”and the independence call “The Quebecois in Quebec”. Some of the groupthrew eggs at soldiers leaving the regimental hall before policearrived.
A Canadian riot unit was called and began forcing the group awayfrom the hall’s entrance but scuffles broke out as demonstratorsclashed with officers carrying shields and batons. The protesters wereeventually pushed down a side road and the prince – dressed in fullmilitary uniform complete with beret and sporran – and duchess wereable to enter.
The prince reportedly apologised to people in thehall for being delayed. “First of all I just wanted to say how verysorry my wife and I are to have kept you all waiting so long – I hearthere’s a little local disturbance,” he was quoted as saying.
JulienGaudeau, a spokesman for the militant nationalist group Réseau deRésistance du Québecois, which organised the protest, said the princewas “a symbol of power given by the blood”.
“We don’t want thiskind of symbol in Quebec, more than 80% of the population in Quebec isopposed to the monarchy,” he said. “In every other province, despitethe numbers being low (in the polls) they are still pro-monarchy. Theonly one that isn’t is Quebec. That’s just one more reason for us toseparate.”
A Clarence House spokesman accompanying Charles andCamilla on the trip said they had been made to feel “very welcomethroughout their visit to Canada”.