Prince Charles and Camilla arrive in Canada for Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall received a warm, flag-waving welcome as they touched down in Canada today.

Minutes after landing in Newfoundland on the first leg of their three-day visit to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the couple were taken by convoy to Confederation Building in, the home of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, in St John’s.

They were greeted by Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, senior leaders from the indigenous communities of the region and Canada’s Governor General.

As they stepped out of their car the the crowds cheered loudly and waved Canadian flags.

Representatives of the local Beothuk Nation holding placards which read ‘We Live On’ stood behind the line-up but also greeted the royal visitors enthusiastically.

Charles clasped the hands of several of the indigenous leaders representing the Innu Nation, the NunatuKavut Community Council, Saqamaw and Chief of the Miawpokek First Nation and Chief of the Qalipu First Nation.

Mr Trudeau greeted the heir to the throne like an old friend, also clasping the prince’s hands.

Charles then took the Royal Salute as the national anthem played before inspecting the Guard of Honour.

As they walked up the steps to the building Charles and Camilla split to greet well-wishers on either side, many of whom were children.

Inside the prince and duchess enjoyed cultural performances by local musicians and singers, as well as speeches by dignitaries including Mr Trudeau.

Before they departed couple signed a ‘Golden Book’ and the Provincial Guest Book before leaving, with the stunning landscape in front of them including The Narrows – the only passage from the Atlantic Ocean to St. John’s Harbour – andCabot Tower, built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

As they walked to their car they were mobbed by well-wishers, Charles ‘high-giving’ a group of local schoolgirls who had waited to two hours to see him. 

In his first speech of the trip, Charles referred directly to the process of reconciliation in Canada, talking about ‘our collective need’ to come to terms with the ‘darker and more difficult aspects of the past’.

He said: ‘However, as we look to our collective future, as one people sharing one planet, we must find new ways to come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past: acknowledging, reconciling and striving to do better. It is a process that starts with listening.’

He continued: ‘I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to discuss with the Governor General the vital process of reconciliation in this country – not a one-off act, of course, but an ongoing commitment to healing, respect and understanding.

‘I know that our visit here this week comes at an important moment – with indigenous and non-indigenous peoples across Canada committing to reflect honestly and openly on the past and to forge a new relationship for the future…’

He added that he and his wife ‘look forward to listening to you and learning about the future you are working to build. ‘

‘As so often in the history of this country and her people, Canadians have embarked on a journey that demands commitment and courage. My wife and I could hardly be more privileged to travel part of this journey with you and we are deeply grateful for your warm welcome, which we will carry with us throughout this entire tour,’ he said.

Charles had been urged to apologise on behalf of the royal family for the treatment of indigenous communities in Canada as he and the Duchess of Cornwall touched down in the country for a royal tour.

Cassidy Caron, National Council President of the Metis people, said she intended to raise the issue personally with the heir to the throne when they meet tomorrow. 

Mary Teegee, executive director of child and family services at Carrier Sekani Family Services in the province of British Columbia, said: ‘They also have to understand that they are not the leaders in our nation,’ adding that recognition of the harms of colonisation are needed rather than just a ‘trite’ apology.

The pressure comes following two recent royal visits to the Caribbean – by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex – attracted criticism for promoting ‘colonialism’ and calls for reparations over Britain’s role in the historic slave trade.

The UK enjoys a warm relationship with Canada, where the Queen is head of state, and whose Platinum Jubilee Charles and Camilla’s three-day visit is designed to celebrate.

But the country has been coming to terms with the grim discovery last year of hundreds of human remains in unmarked graves at former church-run schools, institutions to which indigenous children were forcibly relocated for generations.

From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 indigenous children were forced to attend state-funded Christian boarding schools in an effort to assimilate them into Canadian society.

Thousands of children died of disease and other causes, with many never returned to their families.

The Canadian government has acknowledged that physical and sexual abuse was rampant in the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages.

Notably Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, will begin their tour by acknowledging the treatment of the schools’ victims.

They will take part in a ‘solemn moment of reflection and prayer’ in the Heart Garden in St John’s, Newfoundland, dedicated to the thousands who died or were abused in the school system.

Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs, said of their decision to begin the trip with an acknowledgement of the issue: ‘Heart Gardens are in memory of all indigenous children who were lost to the residential school system, in recognition of those who survived, and the families of both.’

He added: ‘Throughout the tour, Their Royal Highnesses will take the opportunity to continue to engage with indigenous communities.

‘Over five decades, HRH continues to learn from Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world.

‘He recognises their deep ties to the land and water and the critical traditional knowledge they hold to restore harmony between people and Nature.’

But Ms Caron, who represents the Metis, a distinct indigenous people, originally the offspring of Indian women and European fur traders, believes the royal family need to go further.

She told CBC News: ‘There’s so much healing that is needed. We need basic human necessities in our communities and it stems from colonisation.

‘It stems from assimilation and some financial reparations are absolutely helpful in helping us move forward.’

She said she will raise the issue of the Queen apologising for the abuse of indigenous people in Canada’s residential schools suffered and paying reparations when she meets with the prince and duchess at a reception in Ottawa.

Charles and Camilla flew in the Canadian Government’s official Royal Canadian Air Force plane which has been renamed ‘Royals 01’ especially for the voyage. It is normally called CanForce1 when the country’s Prime Minster is on board.

Immediately after their arrival they travelled to St John’s by convoy for an official welcome ceremony at the Confederation Building attended by Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and other dignitaries as well as senior representatives of the main Indigenous communities.

The Prince took a Royal Salute and inspected a guard of honour, before he and his wife watched cultural performances representing Newfoundland and Labrador’s history and traditions.

Charles is expected to speak about the Queen’s ‘profound affection she feels for Canada and its people’ in his first major speech of the tour.

The visit will also see the couple travel to Ottawa and Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories.