Harry and Meghan in Canada, Eh?

The Duke and Duchess

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are spending Christmas and New Years in Canada. This is a little surprising—not with the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham.

And the matter seems to have been publicized, too.

This is not a matter of dividing time between the grandparents; Markle’s family is American. Meghan, of course, having lived in Toronto, has Canadian friends. But they are likely to be engaged with their own families. And the couple are not spending the holidays in Toronto.

I suspect this is a trial run for the idea of Harry and Meghan relocating permanently to Canada, to avoid butting heads with the senior royal couple, William and Catherine.

As it happens, Julie Payette, the current Governor-General, is not flourishing in the role. She is notably absent from many public functions.

This offers an opportunity for royals like Harry and Meghan to pick up the slack, if they are in-country anyway. And perhaps then, having established their role, once Payette has served her term, or perhaps resigned, to take over the post officially. With a member of the royal family already on site, it will seem odd to appoint someone else to the role.

In the old days, this might all have been managed from London. But nowadays, it is likely to take a bit of campaigning. Meghan already has Canadian connections. Perhaps if they play this up, and do some hand pumping…

Personally, as an out-of-the-closet royalist, I hope it happens. I am not particularly attached to the Windsors as incumbents, but I think monarchy works well as a way of giving a nation unity--especially a multi-ethnic nation.

There is something to be said for having a Canadian, and not a foreigner, as Governor-General, for the sake of Canadian independence. But the same argument would hold for Canada establishing its own independent royal line.