Royal couple end Canadian visit

The Duchess of Cornwall has strong ancestral links to Canada

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have ended their tour of Canada with a tree planting ceremony at the home of the Queen's representative.

The prince and duchess planted a red oak at the governor general's official residence in Ottawa.

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, have spent 11 days touring Canada visiting the provinces of Newfoundland, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.

The prince said he wanted to meet "as many Canadians as possible".

Governor General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper bid farewell to the royal couple at Ottawa's airport following a military departure ceremony.

Prince Charles inspected soldiers from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, of which he is colonel-in-chief, before meeting a group of teenage students.

At the airport gates the couple were greeted by an activist from the animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) dressed as a seal to highlight the group's anti-fur campaign.

Last week the duchess faced criticism for wearing a rabbit stole. For her departure she chose a fawn coloured calf-length cape lined with re-fashioned grey fur from a garment owned by her grandmother.

Earlier, during the tree planting ceremony, the couple were heckled by a presenter from a political satire show who was dressed as the television character Xena Warrior Princess.

It followed disruption to their visit to Quebec on Tuesday when anti-monarchy protesters pelted soldiers with eggs.

During their tour the couple have carried out a range of engagements including participating in the national Remembrance Day ceremony, meeting soldiers and their families as well as touring the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics athletes' village.

It was the prince's 15th trip to Canada but his first accompanied by the duchess.