Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have kicked off the Ontario leg of their Canadian tour.
The royal couple landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport after leaving New Brunswick, where they spent the first full day of their visit to Canada for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
They were greeted on the tarmac by Premier Dalton McGuinty, Lt.-Gov. David C. Onley and other dignitaries.
The Duchess of Cornwall received flowers from a little girl, nine-year-old Morgan Marie Fremlin.
Charles and Camilla then headed to a Victoria Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay.
People watching from a nearby dock cheered as the RCMP vessel carrying the royal couple approached. The prince and duchess were joined by McGuinty and his wife Terri, as well as Mayor Rob Ford.
The group walked through the park, stopping to chat with emergency services personnel and their families.
“Prince Charles said he was glad to have so many paramedics here tonight, which made me proud,” said Paul Rafftis, Chief of Paramedics Service, Toronto EMS.
“He’s really humble. It was really awesome to see him get down there, chatting with the kids. Very easy to approach it seems. It’s nice that he was there, chatting with everybody,” said Colin Campbell, Paramedic, Toronto EMS.
They sat on folding chairs to watch the fireworks and clapped as the show wrapped with a rapid-fire burst of colour.
On Tuesday, the Ontario government will host a reception in the historic Distillery District for the royal couple before Charles visits the Yonge Street Mission.
They will leave Toronto on Tuesday evening for Regina. The next day, Charles will have a private audience with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and be treated to a concert by the Regina Symphony Orchestra before the tour concludes.
Read full coverage of the Royal Visit here.
With files from CityNews.ca staff
