The royals are coming! The royals are coming? Hmmm...weren't they here last year?
Yes, their "young and contemporary" Royal Highnesses were here last year, for their Canadian honeymoon, to participate in Canada Day celebrations and the Calgary Stampede.
This year, their "mature and traditional" Royal Highnesses will be here on a four-day tour to three provinces, embarking on 27 solo and joint celebrations, commemorations and sightseeing activities to honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee throughout this Victoria Day weekend.
Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife of seven years, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive Sunday May 20 in New Brunswick and travel to Toronto, Ontario and Regina, Saskatchewan until Wednesday May 23. Last year, the Will and Kate mania attracted much more than monarchy-loving crowds. Most of the Canadians that welcomed the Mountbatten-Windsor newlyweds to Canada wanted to witness Will's contagious smile, the beginning of a Kate fashion trend or the kind of love that fairy tales are made of.
And so you are probably wondering: why is she so excited about the more mature royals?
As you would expect, this twice-married royal couple supports the arts, listens to concerts and distinguishly claps at the theatre. In the summer, Their Royal Highnesses, known as The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, relax at Birkhall, their Scotland retreat, while gardening, fishing, walking and cross-country skiing accompanied by Her Royal Highness' three Jack Russell Terriers, Tosca, Rosie and Beth, the London Battersea Dogs and Cats Home newcomer.
As an etiquette and protocol nerd, any royal visit is exciting and energizing, but this one is even more special as I have received my very first media accreditation for the Toronto portion of the royal tour. Yep, this HuffPost Canada "Sticky Situation" blogger will herself be on her best behaviour to avoid making a faux-pas, while respecting official visit rules to share with you the behind-the-scenes media prep for the 16th Canadian visit of the 63-year-old prince, next heir to the throne, accompanied by his 64-year-old duchess, on her second visit to our land.
Follow my royal diary to get a behind-the-scenes media glimpse of The 2012 Royal Tour of Canada.
Should you have a royal Sticky Situation, please write to julie@etiquettejulie.com and Julie will reply promptly. You can also ask your questions on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EtiquetteJulieCanada?ref=tn_tnmn.