Charles and Camilla visit Canada amid uncertainty about British monarchy's place

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on three-day tour of Commonwealth nation as part of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall greets students during a visit at Assumption Catholic school May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles greets member of the public during a visit at Assumption Catholic school May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall waves during a visit at Assumption Catholic school May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall greet students during a visit at Assumption Catholic school in Ottawa. AFP

The Royal couple greet students during a visit at Assumption Catholic school on May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visit Assumption Catholic School in Ottawa, while on their 2022 Royal Tour to Canada on Wednesday May 18, 2022. The Canadian Press/AP

Samuel Awoyem bows to Prince Charles as his wife Toyin Awoyem looks on during a visit to the Assumption Elementary School in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The Canadian Press/AP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are served beaver tail pastries at the Byward Market in Ottawa on May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, tour the Byward Market in Ottawa on May 18, 2022. AFP

People react as Britain's Prince Charles speaks with indigenous drummer, Okimajd Anderson, during a visit to Assumption Elementary School, on the second day of the Canadian 2022 Royal Tour, in Vanier, Ottawa. Reuters

Britain's Prince Charles greets a well-wishers after leaving a Ukrainian church in Ottawa on their Canadian Royal Tour, on May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are presented with bread and salt during a visit to a Ukrainian church in Ottawa on their Canadian Royal Tour, May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visits an outdoor market stall at ByWard Market, on the second day of the Canadian 2022 Royal Tour, in Ottawa. Reuters

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, take part in a traditional prayer service at a Ukrainian church in Ottawa on their Canadian Royal Tour, May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall greet well-wishers at ByWard Market on May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall walk along a street, on the second day of the Canadian 2022 Royal Tour, in Ottawa. Reuters

Britain's Prince Charles walks to his car after visiting Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on May 18, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visit the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, in Ottawa, Ontario, while on their Canadian Royal tour, Wednesday May 18, 2022. The Canadian Press/AP

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, while on their Canadian Royal tour, Wednesday May 18, 2022. The Canadian Press/AP

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall participate in a wreath laying National War Memorial in Ottawa, during their Canadian Royal tour, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. AP

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, during their Canadian Royal tour, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. AP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on May 18, 2022. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles speaks during a welcome ceremony in St John's, Canada, as he and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, begin a three-day tour of the country. It is taking place at a time when affinity for the British Crown is waning among many in the Commonwealth member. AP

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets indigenous leaders as Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are welcomed. AP

Prince Charles outside the Confederation Building in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles greets people as he arrives at the Confederation Building in St John’s. AFP

A spectator reacts as Britain's Prince Charles arrives at the Confederation Building in St John’s. AFP

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, stands next to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Governor General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser, as they attend a welcoming ceremony in St John's. AP

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Canada on Tuesday to embark on a three-day tour of the country. AP

Indigenous leaders greet Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. AP

Prince Charles is greeted by well-wishers in St John's. AP

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits with Prince Charles in October 2019 at the state opening of Parliament. According to a recent poll, which surveyed 1,607 Canadians, 50 per cent say the royal family is no longer relevant to them. AFP

Prince Charles pictured during the state opening of Parliament on May 10. Even if public opinion continues to sour on the royals, it is unlikely that relations between Canada and the monarchy will change much in the near term. AFP

Britain's Prince Charles stands next to Canada's Governor General Mary Simon, while attending the Order of Military Merit Investiture Ceremony, on the second day of the Canadian 2022 Royal Tour, in Ottawa. Reuters

Britain's Prince Charles shakes hands with Canada's Governor General Mary Simon, while attending the Order of Military Merit Investiture Ceremony, on the second day of the Canadian 2022 Royal Tour, in Ottawa. Reuters

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles are greeted by well-wishers in St. John's as they arrive for a Royal visit to Canada on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The Canadian Press/AP

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Canada on Tuesday to embark on a three-day tour of the country at time when affinity for the British Crown is waning among many in the Commonwealth country.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit the eastern-most province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the capital Ottawa and the Northwest Territories as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates seven decades on the throne during her Platinum Jubilee year.

Their visit, which will focus on indigenous issues and climate change, comes at a time when Canada is grappling with its racist colonial past and is questioning the purpose of having an unelected head of state 155 years after gaining independence.

The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the sites of former indigenous residential schools across the country has sent Canada on a year-long soul-searching mission, and Prince Charles and Camilla will acknowledge the treatment of the schools' victims.

They will take part in a "solemn moment of reflection and prayer" in a garden dedicated to the thousands who died or were abused in the school system, Britain's PA news agency reported.

In April, Pope Francis officially apologised for the Catholic Church's role in the government-run residential schools that stripped indigenous Canadians of their language and culture and often left many subjected to abuse and mistreatment.

Prince Charles is expected meet local indigenous leaders throughout the trip.

“The Prince of Wales has long believed that we need to learn from indigenous peoples around the world how better we should live in and care for nature and the planet," the prince's Clarence House said.

"Canada is seeing the impact of climate change and so this tour will highlight an emphasis on learning from indigenous peoples in Canada as well as a focus on working with businesses to find a more sustainable way of living with global warming.”

While a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute showed the vast majority of Canadians hold Queen Elizabeth in high regard, the same is not true for her kin.

According to the online poll, which surveyed 1,607 Canadians, 50 per cent say the royal family is no longer relevant to them.

More concerning for the monarchy, more than half of Canadians view Prince Charles unfavourably.

Fifty-one percent of those surveyed believe that Canada should become a republic.

“Historically, opinion for the Crown has been favourable” said Patrick Taillon, a staunch anti-monarchist, who challenged British royal succession law in a Quebec court. “Now it's 50-50.”

Mr Taillon, a law professor at the University of Laval in Quebec City, said the transition between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles will be a crucial moment for the monarchy in Canada.

The royal family has come under strain in recent years over Prince Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations by Meghan Markle of racism within the family.

Mr Taillon said that has likely hurt the family’s standing abroad.

It’s not just in Canada. Last year, Barbados officially cut ties with the royal family and became a republic.

In March, Prince William and his wife Kate toured several Caribbean nations and were met with protests.

The couple’s trip to Jamaica included Prince William expressing “sorrow” for the horrors of slavery after a petition, signed by 100 prominent Jamaicans, called for a formal apology.

During the trip, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the royal couple that Jamaica would eventually become independent.

Even if public opinion continues to sour on the royals, it is unlikely that relations between Canada and the monarchy will change much in the near term.

In order for Canada to become a republic, the Canadian constitution would have to be changed.

That would require Parliament and all 10 provinces to agree unanimously on the decision. It is a political headache that few politicians are likely to want to take on.

For those who support the Crown, it is difficult to even imagine parting ways.

"It's at the very foundation of Canadian society," said Nathan Tidridge, vice president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada.

Mr Tidridge, who is also a high school civics and history teacher in the province of Ontario, said he was happy Prince Charles and Camilla had made the trip but was disappointed it would be for such a short amount of time.

"It's like a whistle-stop tour, which is problematic since his focus is in communicating and meeting with indigenous peoples as well as meeting with military personnel and speaking about the environment," Mr Tidridge told The National.

"More time is needed for for that."

Queen Elizabeth has urged nations to 'rise to the challenge' and avert the problems associated with climate change. It is a challenge she has taken on herself, and her family are also doing their part. Getty Images

Buckingham Palace has computer systems that monitor and control the heating, cooling and hot water supplied to the buildings. Getty Images

The gardens of Buckingham Palace are home to four beehives. Photo: Shutterstock

At Windsor Castle, where Queen Elizabeth spends much of her time, hydroelectricity is generated from the Romney Weir in the River Thames. Getty Images

Two turbines at Romney Weir generate electricity by harnessing the power of moving water, providing renewable energy and meeting 40 per cent of Windsor Castle's electricity requirements. Photo: Alamy

The royals have committed to preserving woodland and wildlife, and this year, to celebrate her reign, the queen has partnered with Woodland Trust through the Queen's Green Canopy initiative to donate more than three million trees. Getty Images

The royals have policies in place in Balmoral, above, and Sandringham to ensure that the land is farmed sympathetically and that wildlife is encouraged to flourish. Getty Images

Prince Charles's Aston Martin DB6 Volante has been converted and now runs on discarded wine and cheese. Getty Images

The royal fleet of cars now includes a Renault Twizy. Getty Images

When planning his funeral, the Duke of Edinburgh requested that his final journey be in his beloved converted electric green Land Rover. Getty Images

Prince Charles also owns a £63,000 electric Jaguar I-Pace which he uses for his public engagements. Getty Images

Prince William has launched his Earthshot Prize initiative to inspire 'optimism, confidence and enthusiasm' in the next generation to find solutions to protect the Earth. Getty Images