DISAPPOINTED fans of the monarchy in Canada will have to look on from the sidelines when the Prince of Wales travels across the Atlantic for his first royal tour accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The couple wanted the Commonwealth country to be their first foreign port of call but the Canadian Government banned them over fears that a visit could be “too politically hot”.

Instead it will be the great and good of the United States — which declared independence from the Crown 229 years ago — who will be the first to see Charles and Camilla on tour. Their eight-day visit to New York, Washington and San Francisco will include a presidential lunch and dinner, a packed schedule of appearances and a glittering ambassador’s reception.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the minority Government of Paul Martin vetoed the Canada leg because of fears two months ago that the pair would arrive during a general election campaign. In the event, no election was called. Royalists also point out that no such ban was imposed on the Queen, who made a successful nine-day visit in May during which Mr Martin’s precarious administration won a confidence vote that could have triggered a national poll.

“Canadian monarchists will be bitterly disappointed because there is great fascination with Charles and Camilla,” one Canadian source told The Times. “There is great competition with the United States for everything.”

“When the Foreign Office said to Prince Charles that it would be good to visit the States, the Royal Family said they would like to go to a Commonwealth country as well. They thought, perfect, we can go to Canada, but the Government said no.”

John Aimers, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, said: “I am disappointed. Surely Canada is mature enough that the Governor-General could have welcomed our future King and given us a chance to get to know Camilla.”

Keith Boag, of the CBC, said: “It is well known that the Royal family likes to stay away from partisan political events and so it was deemed inappropriate.”

The Canadian Government refused to comment but Prince Charles’s spokesman said: “We did look into the possiblity of visiting Canada but we just could not make the timing work. I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

A visit could have given another welcome boost to the monarchy after thousands turned out to see the Queen in May. Just before that visit, a poll showed that 55 per cent of Canadians agreed with the statement: “When Queen Elizabeth’s reign ends, Canada should end its formal ties to the British monarchy.”

But the US trip may also stir controversy after the Prince arranged to give a keynote speech on the environment, just days after dining with President Bush in the White House. It is certain to challenge the President’s fundamental beliefs about global warming.

The heir to the throne’s speech will be delivered in San Francisco, while his public remarks with President Bush have been kept to a brief response to a toast at the White House dinner. A royal spokesman denied that the visit had been carefully arranged to put 2,813 miles between the Prince and the President before the environmental speech.

“It is not as if we couldn’t say anything about it in Washington. It is just that California is famous as a state where environmental issues are very much at the forefront,” the Prince’s spokesman said.

“The West Coast provides an opportunity to meet with organic farmers and visit a farmers’ market which fits with the domestic British objectives over the quality of food and local sourcing.”

• The Prince made a fresh appeal yesterday for more aid for the victims of the Pakistan earthquake. He said the issue had “gone off the agenda” and a new effort was needed to help those affected survive the winter. Signing a book of condolence at Nelson Town Hall in Lancashire, the Prince said it was important to remember the aid effort was still going on.

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