Prince Philip made a whirlwind trip to Toronto Saturday to honour the Royal Canadian Regiment on the very day the Battle of York was fought 200 years ago.

The April 27 date was specifically chosen by the Canadian military, which usually holds outdoor events in warmer months, so that the two events would be celebrated together.

Before Prince Philip presented a new regimental flag, also called colours, to the Royal Canadian Regiment, he was treated to a morning of army skills demonstrations. Two soldiers parachuted from a plane, floated over Queen’s Park where the ceremony was held, and landed nearby on University of Toronto grounds.

Teams rappelled down government towers — the Mowat and Frost Buildings — with hundreds of onlookers watching in the bright spring sunshine. Snipers and camouflage crew marched by — those in the camouflage Ghillie suit looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars only covered in grass, not hair.

Drummers from the marching band put their instruments together on the ground, which were then covered with a white cloth to resemble an altar. As the flag was draped over the altar, Chaplain Brig.-Gen. K.R. McLean said a blessing.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who is the regiment’s colonel-in-chief, made a few brief remarks before handing the flag over to the regiment’s Third Battalion.

Soldiers throughout the Queen’s Park grounds showed off their uniforms and gear and answered questions following the hour-long ceremony.

“I would aspire to do what you do,” Andrea Alexander told a sniper. “I have good eyesight and believe in our country’s values.”

Rashad Mohammed, who had two tours of duty in Bosnia and three in Afghanistan, showed off his tactical gear, which included a grenade gun. All equipment was empty of ammunition.

Catherine Gaul and her husband caught the morning GO Train from Mississauga to Toronto to catch the entire day’s events, which began with the Royal Canadian Regiment ceremony.

A military march to Fort York, commemorative ceremonies of the Battle of York, presentation of a plaque honouring the contributions of First Nations in the War of 1812-14, and a concert at St. James Cathedral were other highlights of the day.

The Gauls have a daughter in the army who was formerly stationed at Petawawa before being transferred to Vancouver Island in medical services.

They find military events and royal visits interesting activities as do retired reservists Robert Taylor, who had been a piper in the band of the 48th Highlanders, and Bruce Hall, a drummer. Wearing dashing navy blue blazers and their regiment ties, the two explained the complicated ceremony would begin with a 21-gun salute.

The parade wound its way to Fort York’s grounds tucked behind Bathurst St., where a festive crowd grew to thousands to see re-enactments of colonial life and military manoeuvres.

Steve Collie, dressed in a red woolen army uniform, regularly leads tours of the site as a volunteer. He called the battle, which was won by the Americans, “a flop” because of their high death total (181on both sides) and the fact the gunpowder had already been blown up by the British and there was nothing of value left.

The Americans burned the place and left after a couple of days. The British retaliated by later burning the White House, he told visitors peppering him with questions.

Grant Jackson, who was in red and grey wool and a tall, black hat, has participated in many re-enactments and will be heading off to commemorate the battles of Fort George and Stoney Creek over the next few months.

Neil Grey, dressed in the trousers and white linen blouse of the colonial and carrying a musket, portrays the civilians who stepped forward to assist in the battles. His costume is authentic — “There are no zippers” — just rows of buttons. They had no belts either so he’s sporting a pair of suspenders.

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There were many First Nations participants including Calista Monague, 11, in Grade 6, from Christian Island in Georgian Bay. Her costume covered in bells that tinkled when she walked represents “healing,” says her mother Vicki. Calista was part of a choir that sang O Canada in Ojibway.

Rick Peterson was on hand in soldier’s costume to talk about the Battle of York in which the city was “sacked” and a printing press thrown in the lake. The building official says, “I’ve always had a fascination with history.”

His father, also called Rick Peterson and in full military dress, says “We are helping bring history alive. We are making it real to Canadians.”