CBC Digital Archives

1998: Media gets royal warning at Whistler

From the moment he was born at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 14, 1948, the world has known his name. He's Queen Elizabeth's eldest son, heir to the British throne, and his personal life has been making headlines for decades. So naturally, whenever the Prince of Wales visits Canada, the CBC is there.

Is it a case of overzealous media or a mix-up in communication? When Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry arrive in the ski town of Whistler, B.C. for a private holiday, camera crews from three Vancouver TV stations are on hand to catch the royals in action. A Buckingham Palace representative confronts the crews, who turn their cameras off. The stations say the incident was a misunderstanding, but it is too late. They have already drawn the ire of the federal government, who threatens to revoke the credentials of any reporter who refuses to give the royals their privacy.
• The government posts a history of all royal visits to Canada on the Department of Canadian Heritage website. This 1998 visit was listed as six days in duration, running from March 23-28. It specifies that the Prince of Wales was accompanied by princes William and Henry. Regarding the nature of the stay, the following is noted: "March 23 and 24 official engagements in Vancouver, followed by a private holiday in Whistler."
Medium: Radio
Program: CBC Radio News
Broadcast Date: March 25, 1998
Reporter: Greg Rasmussen
Duration: 1:36

Last updated: April 24, 2012

Page consulted on September 28, 2012

All Clips from this Topic

Related Content

1960: Canada celebrates two millionth immigra...

Annette Toft, formerly of Denmark, becomes Canada's two millionth immigrant since the Second W...

1972: 'Henderson has scored for Canada'

The country's largest TV audience ever watches Paul Henderson score an epoch-making goal.

1974: 28 million rotten eggs

Agriculture minister Eugene Whelan is in the frying pan over an egg scandal.

1939: 'Canada at the side of Britain'

As England and France go to war, Prime Minister Mackenzie King tells Canadians, "To save one, ...

1945: Gouzenko defection exposes Soviet spy r...

Soviet cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko's shocking revelations help ignite the Cold War.

1991: Eric Lindros snubs the Quebec Nordiques

The NHL's top draft pick rejects Quebec and returns to the minors.