Prince Charles ends visit on a personal note Royal visit ASHLEY FITZPATRICK The Canadian Press

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, chat with Grade 5 Bishop Field students Emma Taylor (orange hat) and Molly Monaghan, (purple jacket), as the royal couple did a walkabout at Government House Wednesday morning. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram

The last tree Prince Charles planted on the lawn at Government House in St. John's was beaten down during a wind storm. On Wednesday morning, a substitute sapling could be seen where that tree (planted on June 22, 1983) once stood.

In another area of the lawn, preparations were completed - holes dug, trees in hole - for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to turn ground for another official planting. The English oaks would be marked later with plaques featuring name and date.

Fred Walsh has been the gardener, officially titled grounds and greenhouse manager, at the Lieutenant Governor's residence since 1978. He has seen "at least 30" official plantings by premiers, governors and royals. The tradition within royal visits dates back to 1939 and King George VI.

The official plantings are not the only ones that happen on the property.

"Pretty much every year now we plant, I'd say, at least 10 trees now to replace those that are dying off," said Walsh, who said some trees on the property which date back to the late 1800s, are suffering from old age and are being replaced.

The undedicated trees are not planted with the same ceremony of course. As well, the most recent "royal" trees have been planted in their own grove area on the grounds.

But the exact meaning of the official tree planting ceremony was lost on many of the students of Bishop Feild school, who walked with teachers from their school on Bond Street to Government House for the event.

Still, they appreciated it.

"It was awesome," said Xavier Thivierge.

Grade 6 student Thoren Tilley spoke with Prince Charles after the prince handed off his silver-head shovel.

"He asked us where our school was and how we were doing ... It was cool."

While the impact of official tree planting is debatable, the meaning of a wreath-laying by Prince Charles at the downtown War Memorial later in the morning was well understood - as a tribute to servicemen and women.

The wreath laying was overshadowed, however, by Prince Charles' interactions with one young family invited to attend the official event.

The family included four-year-old Mackenzie Lucas, seven-year old Matthew Lucas and their mom, Natasha. The family was without father and husband Sgt. Donald Lucas, who was killed in Afghanistan April 8, 2007.

When approached by the Prince of Wales, following the royal's laying of his tribute wreath, the talk turned to medals. Matthew said simply that the General Campaign Star he possessed was "Dad's." The prince accepted a pin from the boy.

There was one more tangible item that impacted those in attendance at the memorial.

As the royal motorcade drove away from the memorial site, a handful of the several hundred people who had been standing around the perimeter of the memorial came to the front of the monument, to read a handwritten note attached to the wreath laid by the prince.

It read, "In grateful and ever-lasting memory - n'oublions pas. Charles."

A visit with the Association for New Canadians was the last stop for Charles and his wife Camilla. The royal couple flew to Toronto Wednesday afternoon.

afitzpatrick@thetelegram.com