Arrests made as Prince Charles visits Montreal

MONTREAL — In the main flashpoint of conflict to Tuesday's portion of the royal visit, Montreal riot police had to work for more than 30 minutes to clear away 150 slogan-chanting Quebec nationalists who tried to block the front doors to the Black Watch armory in downtown Montreal.

"I fear there was a little local disturbance," said Prince Charles, after he and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, managed to get inside the headquarters of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. The prince made the remark in his speech to the regiment, after presiding as its colonel-in-chief over the presentation of the regiment's new colours.

Three protesters were arrested after riot police moved in to push demonstrators out of the way. Police had problems because the demonstrators reacted to the first two arrests by staging a sit-in, resulting in a 45-minute delay to the royal couple's arrival.

Inside the armory, organizers expressed dismay that Montreal police hadn't closed down Bleury Street, between Sherbrooke Street and President Kennedy Avenue, a couple of hours before the royal couple were due to arrive at 5:25 p.m.

The protesters had originally been standing under loose police watch away from the armory. But after an hour of simply chanting slogans and waving placards, they suddenly surged across the street at 4:30 p.m. and began to throw eggs at the front doors of the armory.

The demonstrators carried signs reading "Majesty Go Home" and chanted "democratie!"

The three people arrested were charged under the Highway Code with blocking traffic. Later, they were released from custody.

Prince Charles arrived wearing his Black Watch ceremonial uniform, and the reserve regiment's band greeted him by playing the regimental quick march, Highland Laddie.

In his speech, Charles drew mild laughter with his remark about the "little local disturbance" outdoors, then spoke warmly in English and French about his affection for the Canadian Black Watch.

The royals were also to meet recent veterans of Afghanistan before returning to Ottawa in the evening.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff met separately with Prince Charles in Ottawa, though neither man would say what was discussed.

Prince Charles and Camilla arrived in Ottawa Monday evening and, after being officially welcomed to the nation's capital by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Charles held private 15-minute-long meetings with Harper and Ignatieff at Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence.

Jean and her husband Daniel Lafond greeted Charles and Camilla in the hallway outside Jean's office.

The prime minister's wife, Laureen Harper accompanied her husband to Rideau Hall. The couples met in Rideau Hall's large drawing room.

For their meeting, four Canadian Rangers were in the room.

The Rangers are the volunteer force, largely made up of aboriginal Canadians, who help the Canadian Forces patrol Canada's North. Harper gave Prince Charles two Ranger caps and their trademark red sweatshirts to give to Charles' sons.

"Your highness, as you know we're very proud of our Rangers and our Rangers program, a great group of people who patrol our vast Arctic territory," Harper said. "Princes William and Harry are becoming honorary members so we present this to you as a symbol of their honorary membership."

"I hope they fit," quipped Prince Charles.

To which, Laureen Harper said, "One-size fits all!"

Ignatieff arrived alone for his meeting with Charles.

The royals then left shortly before lunchtime for Montreal where they landed at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport slightly behind in their itinerary.

Prince Charles was the first down the stairs of the Canadian Forces Airbus 310. He was followed by his wife, Camilla, who was wearing a tweed coat, navy silk dress and patent leather pumps.

The couple shook hands with Quebec's Lt.-Gov. Pierre Duchesne before hopping into a black Towncar heading downtown in a 15 vehicle convoy.

About 200 royal watchers greeted the couple in English and French as they arrived at Quebec Premier Jean Charest's office soon after.

"Welcome to Montreal" and "Welcome to Quebec" the crowd shouted as the prince and duchess were greeted by Charest on the downtown street.

"You're in great health," Montrealer Richard Lord told the prince as he shook the hand of the heir to the throne. "Give my regards to your family."

Two protesters stood nearby, one carried a Quebec flag and a sign that said "A bas la monarchie" (down with the monarchy).

Some of the royal watchers waved cameras and Union Jacks.

A team of about 15 Montreal police tactical officers lined the couple's path as they made their way inside to meet with Charest.

The royals then spent a little more than an hour at Cirque du Soleil headquarters touring various workshops, including makeup and wigs. They then watched performances in the rehearsal hall, a Chinese pole routine from Saltimbanco and posed for pictures. At the end, the performers broke into a spontaneous rendition of Happy Birthday in honour of Prince Charles's 61st birthday next Monday.

At Montreal's nature museum, the Biodome, chosen as a site in keeping with the conservancy theme of the trip and Prince Charles's ecological campaign, about 60 royalty fans, most of them French, mingled with police, a quartet of protesters who sang and a young woman in a seal suit.

Mayor Gerald Tremblay greeted the prince at the entrance.

Prince Charles stopped to chat with one fan who came with her husband and her two dogs.

"He said 'Vous avez des beaux chiens,' " said Bernadette Kosko.

Another 50 supporters waited for two hours inside. A few sang Happy Birthday, while most looked thrilled to have shaken hands with a prince.

Charles also met with Ouranos, a Montreal-based network of 250 experts on regional climatology whose mandate is to help society adapt to climate change.

This was Day 9 of the Royal Visit, a trip that took Charles and his second wife from Newfoundland to the Pacific coast, back to Ontario, to Montreal, and back to the nation's capital in time for Remembrance Day ceremonies Wednesday. They were expected to fly home to England Thursday.

The Prince of Wales takes two major state trips every year, once in the spring and once in the autumn.

This was the 15th time Prince Charles has visited Canada, and the first time the Duchess of Cornwall has been here.