The day Harry’s parents paid a visit to Kamloops

May 21, 2018 | 9:28 AM

KAMLOOPS –  Big day Saturday, royal wedding and all.

This day was all about Harry and Meghan. Seems like only yesterday it was all about Charles and Diana. Chuck and Di.

Back when Harry was just a little mite — not even two years old — and his brother William was only four, his parents paid a visit to Kamloops.

It was the year of Expo 86, and Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales were in Vancouver for the official opening. The next day, Saturday, May 3, was Kamloops’ turn (after a stop in Kelowna, of course).

It was a very big deal, though Princes William and Harry weren’t with them. Their father, Prince Charles, was theoretically the star of the show but Princess Di was the one everybody wanted to see.

Plans were made for festivities at Riverside Park, including local entertainment, presentation of a gift, and a walk-about.

There were a few nerves about how Mayor Jim Walsh would handle it. Jim was likeable, blunt and sometimes a man of awkward words, and as mayor he would be front and centre.

Though the visit was scheduled for less than two hours, preparations were rigorous — every step, every minute had to be calculated. British and Canadian security officers carefully examined the route and venue in detail. Media credentials were scrutinized.

I remember that day well, because The Daily News decided to publish a special edition on what was, at that time, a non-publishing day, and we went through four different minute-by-minute scenarios for coverage, depending on whether the prince and princess were on time, late, really late or didn’t make it at all. We weren’t taking any chances.

It was all hands on deck — news room, press and production crews, drivers and carriers. We had reporters and photographers at the airport, on the route into town and at the park. We had runners to take film from the photographers to the newspaper office for ‘souping,’ and a system worked out so reporters could get to phones and call in notes that could be written into stories as the event progressed. We even had a helicopter chartered in case we needed it.

News staff had walkie-talkies and a good supply of quarters for phone booths. They staked out parking spaces where they could make quick getaways. Back at the paper, editors, including me, were at the ready to receive the copy and photos.

At 1:10 p.m., an aircraft carrying the international media arrived at Kamloops Airport. Even People magazine was there with a writer and photographer.

At 2:20 p.m., on schedule, the royal visitors’ twin-engine Canadian Forces turboprop touched down and they emerged onto the stairs, Diana wearing a burgundy dress and matching hat. Who knows what Charles was wearing.

They were officially greeted by Claude Richmond, the minister for tourism and Expo 86, his wife Pat, and federal Minister of Supply and Services Harvie Andre.

After being introduced to MP Nelson Riis, his wife Penny and airport manager Ben Rathbone and his wife Elaine Hardy, the royal couple climbed into a car for the drive to Riverside Park.

Seven thousand people were waiting. Some had been there for six hours. The weather was pleasant and sunny.

Walsh and his wife “Squirt” met them there as the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra played, and they walked to the stage for introductions to Kamloops council members and other dignitaries. The women in the party all remembered to wear hats, an etiquette must.

Walsh gave some welcoming remarks, the couple signed a guest book, and Miss Kamloops Cheryl Blackwell presented a bouquet. Walsh presented them with fly-fishing rods.

The mayor made it through as emcee with only one small glitch, forgetting for a moment to introduce teenage musician and future Miss Teen Canada finalist Sandy Struss for her number, an oversight corrected with the help of Prince Charles, who quietly pointed it out.

The Rube Band played, the Kamloops Mounted Drill Team performed, a children’s choir sang and, at 3:40 p.m., the couple and Mayor and Mrs. Walsh strolled back through the park. The crowd strained at the barricades to get a glimpse of them, hoping the princess would stop and talk.

Local media, who had staked out key spots early that morning, strained with them. Daily News photographer Debbie Brash had the foresight to bring a step ladder, which she used to advantage.

Reporter Syd Jones held her ground on a special media stage along the walking route as international reporters and photographers tried to dislodge her.

The royal couple paused here and there to chat with lucky locals, Diana deftly receiving and handing off bouquet after bouquet to a nimble staffer as she went.

At the limo, the Walshs bade farewell; Charles and Diana headed back to the airport. At 4:15 p.m. they lifted off for the return to Vancouver.

By 6 p.m., the special edition of The Daily News was being delivered to doorsteps, with the all-cap headline ‘WASN’T THAT A PARTY!’, a line I borrowed from the Irish Rovers.

People magazine never did their story about a small B.C. town going ga-ga over Chuck and Di — their photographer didn’t get any shots worthy of a cover, and the magazine’s editors refused to use anyone else’s pictures.

It didn’t matter. To all of Kamloops, it was the story of the century.

Saturday, I’m pretty sure a lot of Kamloops people are thinking back to that Saturday in May 1986 when Harry’s mother and father dropped in for a couple of hours.