When the Prince of Wales apologized to MPP Jim Watson for bringing some of Ottawa's political elite out onto a cold, windy runway last night, he needn't have bothered.

"He said, 'Sorry I had to drag you out here tonight,' " Watson said of his brief encounter with Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, at Ottawa's airport. "I told him there was no need to apologize. It was my honour to meet him on behalf of the premier."

GREETING

Standing in for Dalton McGuinty, Watson took his place in a receiving line which included MP John Baird, Ottawa International Airport Authority president and CEO Paul Benoit and Mayor Larry O'Brien, all on hand to greet the royal couple as they arrived at 8 p.m. yesterday to begin the last leg of an 11-day tour of Canada.

"It was a great honour for us to be here (last night) to greet them and to welcome them to the best city in the country," said O'Brien, who was joined on the tarmac by his wife, Colleen.

"Prince Charles said, 'I hope haven't interrupted your dinner.' I told him he had not," O'Brien said.

The royals walked down the stairs from their airplane to greet the line of dignitaries and then climbed aboard a sleek black sedan, one of nine vehicles in a caravan which whisked them from the airport to Rideau Hall where they were to spend the night.

They will meet today with Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and tomorrow take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial.

MOMENTOUS OCCASION

Maj. Leo Regimbal is a member of the Ottawa branch of the Monarchist League of Canada. He said every visit to Canada by a member of the Royal Family is a momentous occasion.

"We see Prince Charles' visit as something of a homecoming," said Regimbal.

"He's coming home. And this is an opportunity for the people of Canada to see him and meet his new wife for the first time. He really likes to come to Canada. He comes here as often as he can."

TERRI.SAUNDERS@SUNMEDIA.CA