Prince Charles applauded B.C. on its leadership in fighting climate change before a feast fit for royalty at Saturday night's reception and dinner at Government House.

B.C. has showed “remarkable leadership” by setting legally binding targets for greenhouse gases, Charles said during a 10-minute speech that focused on the environment after a round of thank-yous to Lt.-Gov. Steven Point and Premier Gordon Campbell.

“In every aspect of life we have forgotten that we are part of nature,” he said. “We cannot have our own economy without nature's economy. First Nations people understand that better than everyone else.”

Charles has long spoken passionately about the importance of global leadership in reversing the effects of climate change.

Before his speech, Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were presented with gifts by Point and Campbell. They were each draped in an aboriginal blanket and cedar wreaths were placed on their heads.

“We are reaffirming the strong and special bond we have with Her Majesty, with England,” Point said in a speech before the gifts were given. “[A bond] that I’m sure, after this visit, will only get stronger.”

About 110 people were invited to the dinner including politicians, First Nations leaders, local monarchists and members of the public. Guests stood and clapped with the rhythm of the bagpipes that accompanied the royal couple’s entrance into the ballroom.

Charles said he has many happy memories of his past visits to Canada and this latest trip is no different.

“We shall remember the events of this evening with enormous pride.”

Earlier in Vancouver, Charles and Camilla toured the Vancouver Olympic Games athletes’ village.

Later, Charles spoke to members of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, then the Duchess of Cornwall planted a Garry oak tree as part of her tour of Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. The moment she entered the garden with her security staff, four-year-old Aria Levitt spontaneously ran up to the duchess to give her a handful of hydrangea flowers picked by her dad from their home garden in the morning.

Charles later headed to the downtown SFU campus for a seminar on urban studies, another of the prince’s interests.

Sunday, Charles and Camilla will attend a remembrance service at Christ Church Cathedral at 10:30 a.m.

Monday, they will visit CFB Esquimalt before flying to Ottawa.