Prince Charles and Camilla visit Ottawa today as their first Canadian tour in years continues

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will tour Ottawa on this second day of their royal visit to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee — a city he recently called "the much-storied capital at the heart of a great nation."

The heir to the throne and the future Queen consort are participating in their first visit to Canada in five years. That lengthy absence was largely due to the COVID-19 health crisis bringing this sort of travel to a halt.

Speaking shortly after his arrival in Newfoundland and Labrador Tuesday, Charles said the tour, like the Platinum Jubilee itself, is "a celebration of people and service to community and country." He said Canadians are an "outward looking and big-hearted" people who have endured the pandemic with grace and dignity.

In a speech at the Confederation Building in St. John's, Charles said the Queen has become "very attached to Canada" as she's been the reigning monarch while much of "Canada's history was written."

Noting her presence at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the signing of the Constitution Act, Charles said the Queen is proud to witness what Canada has become — a diverse and generous country that's "a force for good in the world."

"Personally, Canada and Canadians have had a very special place in my life since my very first visit here more than a half-century ago," Charles said. "Time and again, I've seen what makes this country truly great — its people and what they stand for."

Charles praised Canada's efforts to support Ukraine as it fights off Russian aggression, to welcome refugees fleeing violence and to tackle climate change through green initiatives.

With those issues top of mind, Charles will today visit the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa to meet with members of the local Ukrainian-Canadian community, participate in a "sustainable finance engagement" to discuss market solutions to climate change and pay his respects at the National War Memorial. He's also scheduled to meet with a group of women who fled conflict in Afghanistan.

Charles and Camilla will later visit Assumption Elementary School in Ottawa's Vanier neighbourhood to speak about the importance of literacy and meet with parents and students.

Later, the royal couple will attend a performance of the RCMP's famed musical ride and walk through the stables with the force's commissioner, Brenda Lucki. Both Charles and Camilla are noted horse lovers.

Charles also has said he'll use this tour to learn more about what Canada is doing to reconcile with Indigenous peoples after centuries of colonial violence.

Charles said that, before the trip, he spoke with Governor General Mary Simon about the country's reconciliation efforts. Simon — the first Indigenous person to serve in this role — will host the royal couple at Rideau Hall later this evening.

"As we look to our collective future as one people, sharing one planet, we must find new ways to come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past," Charles said Tuesday. "Acknowledging, reconciling and striving to do better — it is a process that starts with listening."

On tomorrow's leg of the three-day trip, Charles will meet with Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories.