MONTREAL - Prince Charles' visit to a military regiment was marred by scores of slogan-chanting supporters of Quebec independence who blasted the British monarchy and pelted soldiers with eggs Tuesday.
Chanting a variety of slogans including the famous independence call, "Le Quebec au Quebecois," about 200 demonstrators intially blocked the prince's path into a event where he was to salute members of a historic regiment.
Shield- and baton-wielding riot police eventually moved into the crowd, shoving it back hundreds of metres to clear a path for Charles' motorcade. At least one arrest was confirmed by police, amid reports that a handful of others were detained.
The nosiy anti-monarchy crowd was the biggest of the day for the prince, who drew small but enthusiastic gatherings at earlier events throughout 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. Charles eventually made it in just after 6 p.m.
Some of the protesters sat in the middle of the street chanting as members of the Montreal police riot squad looked on.
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 many 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."
