Prince William - Canada Day Speech (2011)

HRH Prince William's speech on Canada Day. More than 300,000 people in Ottawa came to join the festivities with the Duke of Cambridge and his new bride, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Text of the speech:
"Thank you minister and prime minister for your extremely warm welcome. Bonjour, Ottawa. Bonjour, Canada. Bonne fete, Canada.

Je suis tellement heureux d'etre de retour au Canada, ce pays magnifique, et d'avoir la chance d'apprendre a mieux vous connaitre.

I'm excited to be able to share this with Catherine, because she has told me that she feels exactly the same way. She heard about Canada not from her parents, but from her grandfather, a wonderful man who passed away last year, but who held this country dear to his heart, for he trained in Alberta. He trained in Alberta as a young pilot during the Second World War.

To be here on Canada Day, a day of unity, a day of coming together as families and as a nation, is even more special for us. To mark today, my grandmother, the Queen of Canada, has asked me to convey her warmest good wishes to the people of Canada and her happy and abiding memories of being on Parliament Hill with the Duke of Edinburgh one year ago. The Queen has taken a great interest in the themes and program of our tour and looks forward to following our progress as it unfolds.

Speaking of families and of loved ones far away, this is an important moment for Canada, for this month the servicemen and women of the Canadian Forces cease their combat role in Afghanistan. This draws to a close an episode of which all Canadians can be immensely proud. Our armed forces have always led the world in rallying to the defence of freedom. From Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach, through Korea and the Balkans, to Kandahar province, the sacrifice of Canadians has been universally revered and respected.

N'oublions jamais. Ici au Canada, les Canadiennes et les Canadiens demontrent aussi leur force et leur determination. Je salue le courage des equipes de secours et de reconstruction au Quebec, au Manitoba, en Saskatchewan et en Alberta.

Catherine and I are also thrilled and excited by the prospect of the next eight days, especially being part of the Canadian family. It'll be an adventure that we'll never forget.

Merci, Canada. Merci, les defenseurs du Canada, la famille Canadienne. Bonne fete, Canada. Happy birthday, Canada."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Prince William
• Royal Tour
• Catherine Middleton
• Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
• British Monarchy
• Monarchy of Canada
• The Queen in Canada
• The Royal House of Windsor

[waterlizardz123]

Great speech by Prince(and soon king) William, great to see him speak our second official language(le langue francais) , was nice to see that Canada has a special place in his and Kate's heart. Long Live Canada!!! 144 years young!

[JohnnyNW]

God bless William and Catherine and may they have many, many happy years together. God bless William's grandmother, the Queen of Canada!

[TATAPGGlee]

@Rotebuehl1 Quebec people don't use Joyeux Anniversaire even for celebration, It's always Bonne fete, but in France is both, and more Joyeux Anniversaire even for celebration. So it's the opposite :)

[Rotebuehl1]

@TATAPGGlee Isn't "joyeux anniversaire" in the sense of "happy birthday" for a person's birth day? I always thought that "bonne fête" is said concerning all other commemorations, like christmas, new year, national festivities, national holidays and so on...or do the québécois always say "bonne fête" regardless of the occasion? I'm really curious...thanks in advance ;-)

[TATAPGGlee]

@mindspring57 Well , he doesn't have the french accent of the Quebec accent, but it is in Quebec french, because he says '' Bonne Fete Canada'' and in France, they say Bonne Fete, but it's more ''Joyeux Anniversaire'' . So it's Quebec french

[chateaudelangoiran]

"Bonjour de Gascogne" from the former principality of Gascony which belonged to Kings of England (1189-1453)

[jamiebalzano]

GREAT JOB!! You and those like you make youtube great.

[mindspring57]

Can anyone tell me whether Prince William speaks French as they do in France or does he speak the language as they do in Quebec?

[hamptoncourt66]

Amazing indeed !

Listening to this speech I really think that Prince William will become a great king in his own country and throughout the Commonwealth

May God bless Prince William and His wife the Duchess Catherine !

[weeknightingale]

Well done Prince William and Duchess Catherine!

[BritishRoyalFilms]

Thank you for posting this, 324wilson!

I hope Canadians are enjoying the royal visit!

[Caseysmom2]

I can't help but always get choked up when i see this lovely young man speak. they are a lovely couple, aren't they? he would make his mother proud.