By Matthew Coutts | Daily Brew
Prince Charles and Camilla’s visit to Canada was expected to be made up of the standard fare: Go here, tour there, shake that hand and stand next to this Canadian politician as he says that.
So far, however, there have been some hiccups. the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have been subjected to nude sculptures, a cross-dressing performer impersonating his mother and some people dressed in costumes of fruits and vegetables.
Oh, and also apparently Prince Charles incited an international incident by comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolph Hitler – setting off a series of event that will reportedly see Putin "snub" the prince during an event next month.
Britain's Prince Charles (L), Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (R) throw paper airplanes during a visit to Stevenson Hangar in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 21, 2014. ... more
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That comment made headlines in Canada, though it barely overshadowed the prince's tepid reaction to a cross-dressing Queen Elizabeth impersonator. But in the United Kingdom, where dealing with the realities of the monarchy is an everyday requirement, the comments fueled more of a firestorm, with some fearing the diplomatic impact and one elected official calling for Charles to abdicate from his position as prince.
The drama was sparked by a comment the Duke of Cornwall is said to have made on Tuesday during a private conversation with Marienne Ferguson, a volunteer at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax.
Ferguson told the Daily Mail that she and Prince Charles were discussing her family history – they had fled to Canada from Poland ahead of World War II – and Hitler’s penchant for taking over other countries when Prince Charles remarked, "And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler."
That quote is surely paraphrased, considering the comment came suddenly and during an unguarded private conversation. Ferguson told the newspaper that she agreed with the Prince of Wales, but that she was surprised he would make such a comment.
Ferguson is not alone. English Labour MP Mike Gapes weighed in on Twitter, with the former chair of the foreign affairs committee stating that, "If Prince Charles wants to make controversial statements on national or international issues he should abdicate and stand for election."
The BBC's Royal correspondent, Peter Hunt, says Prince Charles' comments could have significant ramifications.
The British monarchy is in a period of subtle transition. Prince Charles is, slowly, taking on more of his 88-year-old mother's workload. As a result, there's a renewed focus on the type of king he will become.
Privately, Charles - a passionate prince - probably won't be too bothered that he's highlighted the actions of President Putin.
Officials at Clarence House, Charles' official residents, said they would not discuss a private conversation, though told reporters the "Prince of Wales would not seek to make a public political statement during a private conversation."
English Prime Minister David Cameron similarly told BBC Radio he would not comment on someone's private conversation. Even Putin's press secretary said they were "not commenting right now," though reports now suggest he will "snub" Charles at a ceremony next month commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The pair had been expected to meet before Prince Charles' apparent aside.
So what's the big deal about Prince Charles' comment? Putin is acting recklessly as of late, what with Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton made the same comparison in March, and received similar rebuke.
In that case, the American people have the ability the censure Clinton for her comments, should they find that appropriate. Clinton is expected to make another presidential bid in 2016, so voters would have plenty of opportunity to punish Clinton for her comments, should they find them not representative of the public’s own stance.
In England, however, Charles was born into his position and doesn't speak for the nation's government, hence the argument that he should abdicate and seek election if he wants to stir up trouble. Then again, since when has the prince answered to anyone but his mother, the Queen of England?
Charles and the rest of the Royal Family may not openly seek to enter such contentious debate, but that doesn't mean they don't have an opinion.
We must also consider the recent reports that Prince Charles wrote as many as 27 notes – referred to as the black spider letters – lobbying government ministers to change the position on various policies. There is an ongoing legal challenge over whether the contents of those letters can be made public, but they are expected to be evidence that Charles indeed shares his opinions with the lawmakers.
In March, Independent columnist Archie Bland argued that, "Opinions are for abdicators."
"We are mostly monarchists in this country, but only in the sense that we enjoy them as part of the furniture: harmless posh mascots who go to terrible clubs and play polo and in general add to the gaiety of the nation," Bland wrote.
The same goes for Prince Charles' opinion on Putin, which he gratefully shared on Canadian soil. Either this Royal tour is about pomp and gaiety and waving and smiling, or it's a diplomatic mission of international value. It can't be both.
Tom Freda, the director of Citizens for a Canadian Republic, a group that promotes Canada cutting its ties to the monarchy, said Prince Charles' comment were a personal faux pas. But because of our ties to the monarchy, such comments could have an impact on Canada’s diplomatic relations.
"Of relevance to republicans is that it underscores the absurdity of sharing a head of state with another country," Freda told Yahoo Canada News in an email.
"Today, it's Putin, but tomorrow, it could be a different issue, possibly one that conflicts with Canada's interests. First and foremost, the royals are British and they represent Britain, sometimes at the expense of Canada. Canada deserves a head of state of our own, chosen by us, who exclusively represents Canada and its interests alone."
"Of relevance to republicans is that it underscores the absurdity of sharing a head of state with another country," Freda told Yahoo Canada News in an email.
"Today, it's Putin, but tomorrow, it could be a different issue, possibly one that conflicts with Canada's interests. First and foremost, the royals are British and they represent Britain, sometimes at the expense of Canada. Canada deserves a head of state of our own, chosen by us, who exclusively represents Canada and its interests alone."
The real issue is not that Prince Charles has an opinion, but that he shared that opinion in a private conversation with someone who then shared it with the world. It's not like he announced it at a press conference as he wagged his finger in Putin's general direction.
This story was updated at 5:00 p.m. ET
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