Chance to glimpse royals in N.B. on Victoria Day

Royal watchers in the province will have a chance to catch a glimpse of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, this holiday weekend.

The royal couple is scheduled to fly into Fredericton Airport on Sunday, about 7:45 p.m.

On Monday morning, they will head to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown for an official ceremony that includes an inspection of the guard of honour, a 21-gun salute and a speech by the Prince of Wales.

While there, they will meet members of the military who are part of the Prince's Operation Entrepreneur program, as well with families of soldiers who have died.

On Monday afternoon, they return to Saint John, where their tour will include a walkabout on Prince William Street and a Victoria Day celebration at the Marco Polo cruise terminal.

It's been nearly 30 years since Prince Charles made his first official visit to Saint John and some 10,000 royal watchers flooded the uptown.

This will be his third visit to Saint John, Canada's first incorporated city.

For anyone lucky enough to greet the royal couple this time around, there is a customary way to address them, says Saint John’s cultural affairs officer Bernard Cormier.

"The first way that you would respond is by calling them Their Royal Highness. So if the prince says - 'Are you a Saint Johner?' 'Yes, your Royal Highness,'" he said.

"And then after that it's just sir. And in her case, after your Royal Highness, it's ma'am."

The tone of their Diamond Jubilee visit to mark the Queen's 60-year reign is more celebratory than formal, said Cormier.

The only other time Canada celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of a reigning king or queen was for Queen Victoria in 1897.

The theme of the 2012 royal tour is "For Queen and Country: Service to Canada — A Royal and a National Value."

Prince Charles will be presenting Diamond Jubilee medals during the trip, which also includes stops in Toronto and Regina, according to a press release from Clarence House.

Cost of the 2012 visit is estimated at less than $1 million, not including security.

Heritage Minister James Moore has said the 2009 visit by Charles and Camilla cost $1.76 million, but Sun Media reported it was $2.57 million for the trip, based on examining documents obtained through an access to information request.

Moore has said the Queen's 2010 visit cost $2.79 million and last year's visit by William and Kate cost $1.2 million.

Planning for the Saint John  visit started in January, said Cormier.

"It's been quite hectic," dealing with the chief of protocols office in Fredericton, the military and security, he said.

Streets in the lower part of uptown will be blocked to vehicles starting at noon, including Prince William, Water, King and St. Patrick, said Cormier. He advises people to take advantage of free holiday parking elsewhere and then walk to the festivities.

Royal Highnesses' New Brunswick itinerary

Sunday

7:45 p.m. - arrival at Fredericton Airport, where they will be greeted according to Canadian custom and protocol

Monday

10:30 a.m. - Canadian Forces Base Gagetown

The Governor General officially welcomes Their Royal Highnesses to Canada and New Brunswick. This event features full military honours including a 21-gun salute and the breaking of His Royal Highness’ personal Canadian flag.

11:05 a.m. - Their Royal Highnesses will meet with military personnel enrolled in The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur program. Their Royal Highnesses will learn first-hand from service personnel and delivery partners how The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur program enables transitioning service personnel to start and grow their own businesses.

11:45 a.m. - Their Royal Highnesses, accompanied by the Governor General, attend a private reception hosted by the Government of Canada.

1:10 p.m. - Return to Saint John

Their Royal Highnesses proceed on a walking heritage tour of Prince William Street, where they observe projects and activities related to the restoration of Saint John and meet the 2002 Committee for the Prince of Wales Municipal Heritage Leadership Prize. This event will welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the city of Saint John and showcase some of its rich heritage, in particular the architecture of historic Prince William Street, which won the Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership in 2002.

1:25 p.m. - To demonstrate how civic pride is celebrated and the significance of the Canadian Crown in our constitutional monarchy in this year of Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Their Royal Highnesses attend a citizenship ceremony at the old post office building to welcome Canada’s newest citizens.

2:10 p.m. - As part of the provincial celebrations organized by the citizens of Saint John and New Brunswick to mark the Canadian Sovereign’s Official Birthday and the Diamond Jubilee, Their Royal Highnesses join thousands of Canadians celebrating Victoria Day at a free event at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal in Saint John. Their Royal Highnesses view artisans and culinary demonstrations and meet with local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides before taking in a musical performance by the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.

3:10 p.m. - Their Royal Highnesses visit Hazen-White-St. Francis School to observe first-hand how students are benefitting from the school’s work with community partners. During the tour, Their Royal Highnesses will meet with staff, mentors, and children involved in the Promise Partnership mentorship program as part of the Crescent Valley Community Regeneration Project. Their Royal Highnesses will also open the Diamond Jubilee IT Centre at the school before joining students in School Fun Day activities.