Prince Charles will tour Toronto in the most regal of vehicles: a TTC bus

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are coming to Toronto later this month, and the prince will get to sample firsthand the joys of public transit in the city—without the public. The TTC has confirmed that on May 22, an empty bus will be Charles’s chariot for an afternoon: following a Distillery District shindig with Dalton McGuinty, the bus will transport the prince to the UforChange centre on Parliament Street in St. James Town (and he won’t have to fork over any tokens for the privilege). We’d argue that the shiny new subways, with their fancy lighted maps and futuristic announcement system, would be a flashier ride for a royal—and even the chiming streetcar would be a more pleasant experience. No wonder Camilla has opted out. [Toronto Star]