Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wave to the crowd from a balcony at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton on Thursday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Prince Charles said Thursday the pride that Canadians have for members of their military has deeply moved him and his wife Camilla.

Charles presented new colours to two regiments at a military ceremony in Toronto after touring sites in Hamilton and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., earlier in the day.

Those two regiments — the Toronto Scottish Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Canada — have seen 43 soldiers serve in Afghanistan.

As the father of two soldiers and colonel-in-chief of 22 regiments, including seven Canadian ones, Charles said he has some understanding of what Canadian military families go through.

"I can so well appreciate the appalling emotional strain and anxiety which permeate every waking minute while a loved one is placed in harm's way," Charles said.

Dundurn visit

Earlier Thursday, the royal couple visited the stately home constructed by one of the Camilla's ancestors in Hamilton.

Her great-great-great grandfather Sir Allan Napier McNab, prime minister of what was the province of Canada from 1854-1856, built the city's Dundurn Castle in 1835.

Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, waded into a crowd of well-wishers on Thursday laughing, chatting and moving easily among people who turned out to welcome them to the castle.

Before the royal couple went into the home and museum they did exactly what the crowd hoped they would — step away from the line of dignitaries and visit.

For several minutes, they walked up and down the line of people who had been standing in the grey morning chill.

Members of the crowd, enthusiastic and welcoming, reached out to touch the prince and the duchess, who both chatted amiably and with great warmth.

Prince Charles was smiling and laughing as he shook hands and shared pleasantries.

Both Charles and Camilla sported double poppies on their left lapels.

The trip marked the second day of the visit by the prince and the duchess.

They began their southern Ontario tour on Wednesday with a stop at the provincial legislature and a welcoming ceremony attended by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Lt.-Gov. David Onley.

On Friday, they will open Toronto's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Charles and Camilla are also scheduled to make stops in Montreal and British Columbia before returning to Ontario next week, where they will take part in the national Remembrance Day service in Ottawa.

With files from The Canadian Press