Prince Edward greets Manitoba military families
The youngest son of the Queen arrived around 10 a.m., first meeting with Premier Gary Doer for a few moments before meeting with the families on the south grounds of the Manitoba legislature.
Edward said he has a strong connection to Canada's military that includes bonds with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, an infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve.
Among the approximately 300 guests were two young children from military families who presented the prince with stuffed polar bears for his own children, Lady Louise Windsor, 4, and five-month-old James, Viscount Severn.
Edward said he hoped one day his children would get to see a real polar bear in the wilds of northern Manitoba, as he himself had in the past.
The province announced Monday that it had named two northern lakes in honour of the prince's children; Manitoba now has lakes named after each of the Queen's eight grandchildren.
Edward has been named an honorary assistant commissioner with the RCMP; he plans to visit the force's detachment in Selkirk, just north of Winnipeg, later on Monday.
He will also visit the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and attend the kickoff of the 100th anniversary of Children's Hospital at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.
The visit to Manitoba is being organized by the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which promotes volunteerism and personal growth among youth aged 14 to 25. Edward is the international chair of the award program, which has been operating in Canada since 1963.
The prince will host a reception at the Hotel Fort Garry later in his three-day visit to recognize 100 young Manitobans honoured by the award, as well as recipients of the premier's volunteer service awards and other awards for bravery and heroism.
The 44-year-old Edward, youngest son of the Queen and Prince Philip, became the Earl of Wessex following his 1999 marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Countess of Wessex.
He is seventh in line to the throne.