Charles and Camilla officially kick off whistlestop tour of Canada

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Couple's three-and-a-half-day tour takes in six towns and cities - and a staggering 41 public engagements
Charles and Camilla arrived on a Canadian Air Force Jet in Halifax last night; and today met people dressed as fruit and veg at Military Families Resource Centre, where healthy eating is promoted
Prince was afforded full military honours by the Canadian Armed Forces in Grand Parade today
He honoured Canadian military service by laying a wreath at cenotaph to mark 100th anniversary of Great War and 75th anniversary of World War II
Charles earlier took part in swearing-in ceremony after being made a member of the Canadian Privy Council

Published: 09:59 EST, 19 May 2014 | Updated: 11:31 EST, 19 May 2014

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Prince Charles once famously admitted he enjoyed talking to his plants - and today, he also had the chance to chat with a banana and a carrot.

As part of their whirlwind tour of Canada, the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall visited a Military Families Resources Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they encountered one of the most unusual line-ups of their royal careers - a group of fruit.

The royal couple were introduced to volunteers dressed up as a banana, a carrot and a bunch of grapes in order to promote healthy eating among children.

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As part of his tour of Canada, with Camilla, Prince Charles today greeted men dressed as fruit and vegetables during a visit to the Military Family Resource Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The centre runs a scheme that promotes healthy eating for children

The pair also met a puppet called Jason who is used to help children talk through any issues they may suffer from, as a result of having parents in the military

Camilla burst into laughter as she was introduced to banana Matthew Hunt, saying 'what have they made you do?'.

Carrot John Marc Morel cheekily told the environmentally minded prince: 'I'm all organic you know!'

'I am in the navy and he told me that I should take it on board with me.'

The pair also met a puppet called Jason who is used to help children talk through any issues they may suffer from, as a result of having parents in the military.

His operator, Melissa Connell, said: 'The prince said he looked a little scary but the children love him and find him easy to confide in.'

Earlier today, standing in a bone-chilling drizzle, Charles and Camilla formally launched their visit.

They have left the sunshine of the UK behind for a three-and-a-half-day tour of the country, taking in six towns and cities and undertaking a staggering 41 public engagements.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive at the official welcome ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia, today as part of their whistlestop tour of Canada

Prince Charles today inspected the guard in the Grand Parade, a historic military parade square dating from the founding of Halifax in 1749

Shubenacadie First Nation Elder Doug Knockwood salutes the arrival of the royal couple in Halifax, while a young girl eagerly waits to catch a glimpse of the pair

The prince is presented with a gift for his grandson Prince George by the First Nation veteran

The couple arrived in Halifax on Sunday night and conducted several duties afterwards, including a ceremony in which Charles was officially sworn in as a member of the Canadian Privy Council, an honour last afforded to a royal in 1957 to his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Today, however, saw their official welcome to the country – and to Nova Scotia, a first for the Duchess, who was wearing a kingfisher blue suit and hat with a tartan scarf.

The ceremony took place in the Grand Parade, a historic military parade square dating from the founding of Halifax in 1749.

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At the north end of the Grand Parade is the Halifax City Hall, the seat of municipal government in Nova Scotia’s Halifax Regional Municipality.

The clock on the northern face of City Hall is fixed at four minutes past nine to commemorate the Halifax Explosion of 1917 - a disaster which saw the death of 1,900 people following a massive explosion when two ships collided in the harbour (see box below).

The prince also honoured Canadian military service by laying a wreath at the cenotaph to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War and 75th anniversary of WWII

Today saw their official welcome to the country - and to Nova Scotia, a first for the Duchess, who was wearing a kingfisher blue suit and hat with a tartan scarf

The cenotaph is constructed of local Tangier granite. The bronze sculpture depicts victorious but grieving Britannia representing Nova Scotian motherhood

The couple arrived in Halifax on Sunday night and conducted several duties afterwards. Pictured today at the cenotaph

Charles watched as he was afforded full military honours by the Canadian Armed Forces.

This included a composite 100-person Guard of Honour, the Royal Canadian Air Force Band, and a 21-gun Royal Salute.

The prince also honoured Canadian military service by laying a wreath at the cenotaph to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War and 75th anniversary of World War II.

This week's tour to Canada is Charles's 17th to the country where his mother, the Queen, is still head of state

Last night saw a ceremony in which Charles was officially sworn in as a member of the Canadian Privy Council

The privy council honour was last afforded to a royal in 1957 - to Charles's father, the Duke of Edinburgh

The cenotaph is constructed of local Tangier granite. The bronze sculpture depicts victorious but grieving Britannia representing Nova Scotian motherhood.

There are also three ceremonial wreaths, the names of First and Second World War Battles honours, a dedication and the coat of arms of both Nova Scotia and Canada, as well as a Victory Cross.

This week's tour to Canada is Charles's 17th to the country where his mother, the Queen, is still head of state.

Prince Charles and Camilla in Canada for Royal tour

THE HALIFAX EXPLOSION

On the morning of December 16, 1917, a French cargo ship, Mont Blanc, carrying wartime explosives, collided with a Norwegian relief vessel in Halifax Harbour.

The port was used as a WWI base by the Canadian Navy at the time, and was teeming with troops and ships.

As crowds gathered to watch the drama, the munitions ship drifted towards the pier.

The crew and captain fled in lifeboats, desperately trying to warn those on shore to run.

Twenty minutes later, the ship exploded, causing extensive damage over a one-mile radius. Much of Halifax was destroyed, including 1,600 buildings and 12,000 homes.

Fires quickly spread around the city and a tsunami flooded the streets.

More than 1,900 people were killed; 9,000 were injured.

Although it has welcomed four official visits by the Royal Family in four years - the Queen in 2010, then-newlyweds Prince William and Kate in 2011, and Charles and Camilla in 2012 - the Canadian secretary to the Queen says there is still a deep fascination with the royal family.

'There's a great deal of excitement and expectation about this royal tour,' says Kevin MacLeod, who has worked on some 20 royal tours since 1987.

Later at the city's Public Gardens, Charles will plant an English oak tree - a tradition started 75 years ago by his grandfather, King George VI.

At historic Pier 21 and the Canadian Museum of Immigration, the couple will also meet with war brides and veterans of the Second World War.

They will also travel to the community of Pictou where they will learn about the province's Celtic roots, visit street stalls and watch a musical performance at Hector Quay.

This evening the couple will fly on to Prince Edward Island for a Victoria Day fireworks display.

Tuesday sees them spend the morning in Charlottetown, visiting the Legislative Chamber and attending a youth parliament debate.

The Prince of Wales will also be honoured with a medal recognising his contributions to Canada and deliver his second speech of the tour.

Charles and Camilla will tour the city's arts centre guided by an actress playing the region's most famous export - Anne of Green Gables - before flying to Winnipeg.

On Wednesday, their last day in the country, the couple will undertake a staggering 16 engagements between them.

The highlight is set to be Charles feeding a polar bear named Hudson at the local zoo and learning about another famous regional bear - Winnie the Pooh.

The original Winnie was a female black bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Onatario by a Lt Harry Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse, a Canadian Cavalry Regiment, en route to the Western Front during the First World War.

The bear was smuggled into Britain as the regiment's unofficial mascot with veterinarian Lt Colebourn naming her after his home city of Winnipeg.

Prince Charles and Camilla arrived at Robert L. Stanfield International Airport in Halifax yesterday

Camilla was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Grace Elizabeth Lenihan, three, and Molly Jane Lenihan, nine

Before leaving for France he decided to leave her at London Zoo where she become something of a local star and much admired, among others, by AA Milne's son, Christopher Robin.

Christopher subsequently changed the name of his own teddy from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh, providing the inspiration for his father's much-loved books.

Charles and Camilla will leave Canada on Wednesday evening and fly back to the UK overnight.

Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, said he believed Charles still spoke to Canadians, both young and old.

'Things like the environment, bridging the gap between different religions, these are things that Canadians -- even young Canadians -- really gravitate toward, ' he said.

The royal couple will visit three provinces, six towns and cities and undertake a staggering 41 engagements in just three days

Prince Charles was greeted by the Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, the Honourable Peter MacKay