In one of their first public appearances after the late Princess Diana’s death, the then Prince Charles brought his sons Prince William and Prince Harry on a working holiday to Vancouver in 1998.
The visit was no doubt emotional for the young princes after recently suffering the tragic loss of their mother. William and Harry not only had to face the press but also meet screaming young crowds, a former royal correspondent shared.
Jennie Bond tells OK! Magazine that girls in Canada were going wild for William: “The trip to Whistler was so soon after Diana’s death and William and Harry were obviously feeling incredibly raw, and understandable hostile to the press. The girls in Canada went wild over William, much to Harry’s huge amusement. They screamed and yelled and had signs asking him to marry them.”
The former royal correspondent explains Prince Harry had a secret way of dealing with the fans. She said: “I remember being told that Harry was secretly egging on the army of admirers because he loved seeing his bother turn red with embarrassment.”
As reported in Town and Country Magazine, the young princes and their father spent 24 hours in Vancouver for engagements, and then four days skiing on a private holiday in Whistler, as well as attending a press photo call.
The trip to Canada was just a few months after the fatal car crash in Paris that killed Diana, Princess of Wales on August 31, 1997.
This year, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle made a recent return to the country when they both travelled to Canada to attend the Invictus Games ‘One Year to Go’ celebrations at a ski resort in Whistler.
Meghan, 42, took pictures and filmed Harry, 39, trying out sit-skiing, taking part in more winter sports, and meeting contestants from participating nations.
Commenting on the recent trip, Ms Bond told OK! Magazine: “They are publicising something that is dear to Harry’s heart and it was great to see him behaving in his carefree, daredevil way as he took part in activities.”
