The Canadian government is busily prepping for Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s nine-day visit to the country, fine-tuning the smallest of details—including identifying the specifc bathrooms and elevators the newlyweds will use during their trip!
According to the Canadian Press news agency, government officials are organizing the Royals trip around such predicaments as “If one of them has to use the bathroom at la Maison Dauphine [one of the Royals' stops] in Quebec City, where are the closest and most secure facilities?”
Other considerations include “Whose hand will they shake first at a veterans’ reception at the Canadian War Museum?” In fact, reports Canadian Press, planning for the Royal Tour has been “undertaken with military precision—floor plans, down-to-the-minute itineraries and menus are drawn up well in advance” so the trip goes off without a hitch.
Kevin MacLeod, the Canadian secretary to the Queen and the federal government coordinator for the Royal Tour, says he has been tasked to ensure William and Kate spend as much time possible with their Canadian fans—not searching out restrooms or elevator banks.
“If five or 10 minutes is wasted trying to figure out what a seating plan is or what an elevator movement is, that’s five or 10 minutes less opportunity for them to meet with Canadians,” said MacLeod, who’s been involved with the planning of Royal visits to Canada since 1987.
But while MacLeod says all efforts are made to keep Royals on schedule when they tour, there’s a bit of extra time added to their schedule. He points to the Queen’s visit to Canada last year, when she extended her 15-minute walkabout.
“I’m not going to go up to her and say, ‘I’m sorry Your Majesty, time is up. You have to move along.’”
—David Caplan
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Mary Simons
Posted at 7:59 PM on June 25, 2011
Such a waste of Canadian Tax payers hard earned money. If the Royals want to visit they should pay for it themselves. I would rather feed our poor with that kind of money.