Prince Charles introduces Camilla to our prime minister

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

************************* Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomes The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Canada

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs. Laureen Harper yesterday welcomed Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at an event held at Mile One Centre in St. John’s as they begin the first leg of an 11-day visit to Canada.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I welcome Their Royal Highnesses to Canada for what I hope will be a memorable tour of our great country,” said the prime minister.

“Royal visits are always a great honour for Canadians. Given our deep devotion to members of the Royal Family, and their devotion to Canada, these visits are regarded as ‘homecomings’ by Canadians.”

The prime minister and Mrs. Harper will join the royal couple on a visit today to Cupids, a small community on the Avalon Peninsula that is the site of the oldest English settlement in Canada.

Cupids will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2010.

The tour will include a visit to Cupids Cove plantation archaeological site, where they will meet with members of the community and the Cupids Historical Society.

A plaque for the new Cupids legacy and interpretation centre will be unveiled.

“I look forward to showing The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall the historical work being done in Cupids, which is important for all Canadians,” said Prime Minister Harper. “I am pleased that our guests will be able to share in our celebrations of the first English settlement in Canada.”

For more information, visit the Royal Visit 2009 website.

*************************