Royal Tour 2012 - Welcoming Ceremony
May 20, 2012
Their Excellencies to Welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Canada During an Official Ceremony
OTTAWA—Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will officially welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Canada, at the Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, in New Brunswick, on Monday, May 21, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.
The ceremony will feature full military honours including a 21-gun salute and the breaking of His Royal Highness’ personal Canadian flag. The design of the flag, which was unveiled last year, was developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, working with the household of The Prince of Wales.
On the occasion of their Royal Tour of Canada, from May 20 to 23, the couple will also visit Saint John, Toronto and Regina. Details of the itinerary can be found at www.canadiancrown.gc.ca.
About the Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Heraldic Authority, which is headed by the Governor General, is responsible for the creation of coats of arms, flags and badges for Canadian citizens, corporate bodies and units of the Canadian Forces. For more information about the Canadian Heraldic Authority, please visit www.gg.ca/heraldry.
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Media members wishing to cover the visit of Their Royal Highnesses require accreditation through Canadian Heritage.
A fact sheet on the Royal flags for use in Canada is attached.
High-resolution image of the flag of The Prince of Wales can be found on our website via the link : www.gg.ca/images/royal/wales.jpg
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FACT SHEET ON THE PERSONAL FLAGS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE FOR USE IN CANADA
Two personal flags, for His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, have been created under the powers of the Canadian Crown and brought into use on June 30th, 2011. The designs of the new flags were developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, working with the households of Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge.
Personal heraldic flags are used all around the world to identify the presence of individuals at a particular location or while travelling. Since 1962, Her Majesty The Queen has been the only member of the Royal Family to have a flag for use in Canada.
Description of the flags
The two new flags are based on Her Majesty The Queen’s personal flag for use in Canada, and use the Royal Arms of Canada, in banner form, as their basis.
The flag of Her Majesty The Queen
The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of roses in gold. The centre features her Cypher, composed of the letter ‘E’ with the Royal Crown above it, also in gold.
The flag of The Prince of Wales
The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of golden maple leaves for Canada. The centre features the badge commonly known as The Prince of Wales’s feathers, used by the heir apparent to the Sovereign. Near the top of the flag is the traditional heraldic mark of an eldest male child, the three-point white label.
The flag of The Duke of Cambridge
The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of golden maple leaves for Canada, and of shells, a symbol borrowed from his coat of arms. The centre features his Cypher, composed of the letter ‘W’ with a coronet above it that indicates he is the child of the heir apparent to the Sovereign. Near the top of the flag is the personal three-point white label charged with a red shell, taken from his coat of arms.