By Baron Henri Estramant.
Canada’s Viceroy and Personal Representative of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada, HE the Right Honourable David Johnston and her wife HE Mrs Sharon Johnston have just paid a two-day visit to The Netherlands.
During their brief stay, Their Excellencies called upon Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Netherlands at Noordeinde Palace on 27 October 2014. The vice-regals’ visit was to attend the 70th anniversary of the battle of the Schelde River. Later that day, the Dutch King’s cousin and Aide-de-camp, His Highness Prince Maurits van Oranje-Nassau escorted Their Excellencies to the Canadian war cemetery in Bergen op Zoom. After departing from The Netherlands the viceregal couple headed south to neighbouring Belgium where they were welcomed by Her Canadian Majesty’s Ambassador to HM The King of the Belgians, M Denis Robert.
Representing Canada’s monarch and Her government the vice-regals attended the National Commemorative Ceremony for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Ypres at Menin Gate. Before the commemoration, and after a full day of activities in The Netherlands, Governor General Johnston, his spouse and Ambassador Denis Robert attended a dinner hosted in their honour at Laeken Castle by Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Belgians.
David Lloyd Johnston is Canada’s 28th Governor General since the foundation of the Confederation in 1867. He assumed office on 1 October 2010 after being appointed by Canada’s Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, at the recommendation of incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Governor General carries out the ceremonial and protocolary duties of the constitutional monarch on a daily basis pursuant to the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor General of Canada issued by King George VI in 1947.
Credits picture: http://www.gg.ca/document.