Royals get lesson in maple taffy making for Commonwealth Day

CTV National News: Commonwealth Day celebrated Prince Harry and Meghan visited Canada House in London in honour of Commonwealth Day connecting with youth. Daniele Hamamdjian has more.

Prince Harry and Meghan marked Commonwealth Day with a visit to Canada House in London.

The royal couple headed to the consulate to attend a youth event, meant to showcase the diverse community of young Canadians living in London and across the U.K., meeting with representatives from the worlds of fashion, the arts, business and academia.

The event included a meet-and-greet with the expats, a musical performance, and a hands-on demonstration where the Royals were taught how to make traditional maple taffy over ice.

This was the closest the Duchess of Sussex will likely get to her old home any time soon. After years spent living in Toronto while filming the TV show “Suits,” Meghan essentially earned the informal title of honorary Canadian.

The royal couple also received several baby gifts, including a maple leaf onesie and a pair of infant-sized moccasins. The gifts should be welcome ones for the eight-months pregnant Meghan, who was donning a dress by Montreal-born, London-based designer Erdem Moralıoğlu.

Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Janice Charette marvelled at the way the couple made their way through the meet-and-greet.

“They are amazing networkers and so when they walk up to a group of people, they really do connect with them directly,” she told CTV News.

Following their visit, Harry and Meghan headed to join Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey for the yearly Commonwealth service.

This year marks 70 years since the creation of the modern Commonwealth with the issuing of the London Declaration.

Commonwealth Day was originally called Empire Day and over the decades has turned into a celebration of the 53 countries that make up the modern Commonwealth.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a short statement celebrating the Commonwealth and Canada’s role in it.

“Today on Commonwealth Day, we join Commonwealth countries around the world to honour our ties of friendship and cooperation, and celebrate the values we share,” the statement reads. “Canada has been a member from the beginning and has played an important role in its evolution.

With files from CTV News’ London bureau correspondent Daniele Hamamdjian