MONTREAL - About 200 protesters, mostly supporters of Quebec independence who believe the British monarchy has exploited people worldwide for years, pelted soldiers with eggs on Tuesday just before a visit by Prince Charles to a military regiment.
The nosiy anti-monarchy crowd was the biggest of the day for the prince, who drew small but enthusiastic gatherings at a few other events earlier in the day.
The demonstrators waved Fleur-de-lis flags and brandished signs with slogans such as Down With the Monarchy as they gathered outside the building housing the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
The protest delayed the prince's scheduled 5:30 p.m. ET arrival, with officials saying he would not be allowed near the building until the area was cleared of demonstrators.
Some of the protesters sat in the middle of the street chanting as members of the Montreal police riot squad looked on.
Charles was scheduled to participate in a ceremony to present new colours to the regiment.
Patrick Bourgeois, one of the protesters, said the British monarchy has exploited people all over world and that Quebec is no exception.
The symbol of the monarchy has been reviled by some French-Canadians for centuries, and Bourgeois and others said members of the Royal Family had no business being in Quebec.
Bourgeois also linked the prince's visit with the military mission in Afghanistan which features British and Canadian soldiers.
"Quebec is against the war in Afghanistan," said Bourgeois, a member of the pro-independence Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois.
"And now it's our chance to pass that message to Prince Charles and many people across Canada."
Earlier in the day, Charles and his wife -- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall -- faced a friendlier audience when they met with Premier Jean Charest and his wife, Michele Dionne.
In his fluent French, Charles thanked the premier for the gift of an Inuit sculpture and a collection of Quebec films on DVD. Charest pointed to one film in particular -- "La Grande seduction" -- as his favourite. The film is about a small remote Quebec community trying to get a doctor.
A heavy police presence geared up to ensure the royal couple's safety. Several dozen cops on motorcycles rolled in to stand guard outside Charest's office.
But the crowd outside consisted almost exclusively of well-wishers and star-gazers. Several dozen people, many of them toting cameras, excitedly waited outside in anticipation of snapping a photo of the arriving couple.
They cheered heartily when the prince arrived.
"I'm here to see the show -- that's all," said Claudine Lefort, who works up the street at McGill University. She was walking by on her lunch break and decided to wait for the visitors.
There was one lone protester at the first event: one man, holding up a Quebec flag, with a T-shirt that said: Quebec Un Pays (Quebec A Country). He got into a heated exchange with a journalist from Toronto when the reporter tried asking questions in English -- and he refused to answer.
The couple's next activity was a trip to the Cirque du soleil headquarters where they attended a brief performance by acrobats, chatted with performers and took a whirlwind tour of workshops where costumes and props are made.
The royal couple chatted quietly with artisans, often smiling and asking questions about their work.
Charles and Camilla seemed particularly impressed with a selection of masks on display as they entered one workshop.
After the performance, they stopped by a studio for a few minutes where they watched a couple of performers having their makeup applied.
The duchess quizzed the makeup artists, asking how long it took to apply the intricate designs.
The couple were greeted with smiles, large groups of workers and often cheers as they toured.
The prince then headed to the Biodome, an ecological centre where he was taken to an area set up to resemble a humid forest in South America. That was followed by cooler temperatures when Biodome officials discussed climate change as penguins moved around a nearby enclosure.
Charles and Camilla arrived in Quebec after a morning in Ottawa where Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean offered Charles a glimpse of the normalcy she strives for at Rideau Hall.
The Prince of Wales was staying on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the usual residence of the royals while in Ottawa, and commented on seeing Jean's husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, walking the dog that morning.
Jean, who wore a light blue wool suit, confided in the Prince that she sends her daughter Marie-Eden to public school in the area. The two met together for a half-hour with their spouses in Jean's personal office.
Later, the royal couple met Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen in the sunlit, large drawing room at Rideau Hall.
Four Canadian Rangers stood guard in their trademark red sweaters as the two couples chatted. There are 4,200 rangers in Canada, who help watch over some of the country's most remote northern communities. They are often aboriginals who respond to local disasters.
Harper handed the prince two Ranger caps and sweatshirts for his sons.
"Your Highness, as you know we're very proud of our rangers and our rangers program . . . a great group of people who patrol our vast Arctic territory," Harper said.
"Princes William and Harry are becoming honorary members, so we present this to you as a symbol of their honorary membership."
"I hope they fit," the prince chuckled.
"One-size fits all," Laureen Harper replied.
The prince later met Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. The two posed before a phalanx of photographers in the drawing room.
The royal tour is scheduled to be in Petawawa, Ont., and Ottawa on Wednesday for Remembrance Day ceremonies.
