A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at an official arrival ceremony in Canada

Your Excellencies, Ministers, Your Honours, Premier, Distinguished guests,

Can I just thank you, Governor General, Minister and Premier, for those incredibly kind words and for the warmth of your welcome to my wife and myself, as we join you in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada. Le thème du Jubilé de diamant, et de notre tournée, est le service aux autres. Au cours des prochains jours, nous aurons le grand plaisir que de rencontrer des Canadiens et des Canadiennes - de toutes les couches de la société - qui sont allés au-delà de leurs besoins et de ceux de leurs familles, pour se dévouer corps et âme à leur collectivité ou le pays - voire, même, au monde entier. The roll-call extends from remarkable schoolteachers who, against all the odds, are giving their students the best possible start in life, to senior businessmen and women who are working creatively to share their practical skills and experience with communities who need a bit of help. I can only hope their example will inspire others as it inspires me.

I am delighted that my wife and I are beginning this - my 16th - visit (over the past 40 years) to Canada here in Gagetown where I have fond memories of my own military service - as a young naval helicopter pilot - in the 1970s at an exercise area in the middle of nowhere, which somewhat inaptly took its name from the local town of "Blissville!" As the father of two serving sons in the Armed Forces (who seem to have become hereditary helicopter pilots!) I am greatly looking forward to talking to members and veterans of Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces in a few moments and to recognize their particular form of service to the nation.

I shall also be delighted to see, over the next few days, the results of some of the projects coordinated by my Prince's Charities Canada Foundation. I hope these projects may, in a small way, help to promote Canadian values and the way of life through assisting our Military with the transition to civilian life by providing private sector training and skills; by bringing business-based solutions to communities who need a bit of a helping hand; and by using the Arts as a vehicle for wider learning.

Excellences, mesdames et messieurs, il est souvent l'expérience personnelle et individuelle qui nous apporte les plus grandes leçons. Je peux vous dire que j'aurai un immense plaisir à présenter, dans quelques instants, la médaille du Jubilé de diamant à Marshall Howard. Despite being only thirteen, he has given his own time and energy to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Private David Greenslade, a soldier from St. John who lost his life in Afghanistan. This remarkable example of service to the wider community is something of which Marshall's family and indeed all Canadians can rightly be immensely proud.

I need hardly say, Your Excellency, Premier, Ladies and Gentlemen, how delighted we both are to be back in Canada to celebrate with you The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and how much we are looking forward to experiencing, once again, your unique brand of Canadian hospitality.