So far we have heard no reports out of Los Angeles that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be accosted by a mob of Tea Party supporters with a festering grievance against King George when they visit there next week.
Of course, the U.S.A.'s beef with the Brits was settled some 235 years ago with a clash of arms and, save for the occasional burst of belligerence, namely the War of 1812, and some meddling in the Civil War, it's been cross-pond harmony ever since.
Up north, though, and specifically Quebec, it's another story. One espies on telephone poles in our neighborhood of Quebec City posters with the slogan "William Degage!" roughly translated as "get lost" or "clear out." The posters are the work of the Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois (RRQ), a group agitating for the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada.
The RRQ is calling for those opposed to the royal visit and all things monarchical to turn up in front of city hall in Quebec City on Sunday - where William will receive the symbolic keys to the city - to voice their displeasure. One sympathizer blogs that "the Quebec people remember these people whose armies bombarded the city of Quebec for more than three months" - back in 1759 that was. (And, to be fair, whose armies saved Quebec from American invasion on several occasions, not to mention coming to the aid of mother France in two World Wars)
Given the tradition of radical secessionist groups in Quebec showing up at certain federal-friendly ceremonies it's no surprise the RRQ is pulling out the stops - including hiring its own security squad - to get the attention of the global media at such a massively high profile event as the visit of the world's most famous couple.
But such attention can also work for less politically charged causes. While in Canada, the royals have made a point of including visits to places that reflect their personal interests in various causes.
Take la Maison Dauphine in Quebec City's old town. It's a shelter for kids aged 12 to 24 looking for an escape from degradation, danger or death on the streets. Among the many programs the centre offers the 500 or so residents it welcomes each year is art therapy as a means to help them express and exorcize whatever torment they have experienced.
William, like his grandma the Queen, has taken a keen interest in the situation of homeless and troubled youth. He's famously spent an night living in the cardboard box conditions of kids in London. His new bride, coincidentally, has an interest in art therapy, so the visit to la Maison Dauphine was a nice fit for a Quebec City tour otherwise loaded with official ceremonies where there are more medals than nose-rings.
On the higher level, much to the consternation of the not inconsiderable anti-monarchist faction in Canada, the Cambridges's visit is viewed as a rebuilding exercise for the image of the royal family. After all, Canada seems fated to remain a constitutional monarchy until such time as the royal family resigns, or a government comes to power with the nerve and the mandate to get rid of such a seemingly anachronistic institution.
William and Kate presumably chose Canada as the first destination of their reign as the apparent future monarchs on the advice of Queen Elizabeth, who has visited Canada no less than 23 times in her extraordinary reign.
And the stop in Quebec City is included despite grandma's less than royal welcome in 1964 at the height of separatist fervour in the province. The visit provoked riots in the streets and is still known as the samedi de la matraque (the Saturday of the police club) for the confrontation between protesters and police.
The Queen did not return to the Quebec capital until 1987 when she made a very brief stop. And she has not been back since. Presumably, city officials are hoping the royal couple will have more fond memories of this stop on their first Canadian tour.
Peter Black is a radio broadcaster and writer based in Quebec City. He has worked on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in Montreal as a newspaper reporter and editor, and as a translator and freelance writer. He can be reached at pmblack@videotron.ca.
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