TORONTO - Dalton McGuinty has fallen under a royal spell.
The Ontario premier was at most of the Queen's public events over the past three days and at times seemed practically beside himself with excitement.
At a send-off ceremony at the Ontario legislature Tuesday, McGuinty couldn't contain his unabashed admiration for the Queen.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, for lifting our spirits, and for inspiring warmth and kindness in us all," he said.
"We have thoroughly enjoyed hosting you and we will fondly remember your visit for years to come."
Another speech the premier gave for the Queen was even more effusive in his love for the monarch.
"On behalf of 13 million Ontarians, thank you for sharing with us your grace, your warmth and your kindness," McGuinty beamed at the Queen during a luncheon he hosted Monday. "You lift us up."
McGuinty's short speech was brimming with praise for the Queen and he announced an Ontario scholarship would be renamed in her honour.
"In a world of constant change, in a world where so many of us are given to getting, you help us understand an eternal truth: that we can be better by allowing ourselves to be given to giving," he said.
"Your Majesty, you've been given to giving all your life. You have given an unrelenting commitment to your responsibilities. You have given an unwavering devotion to all those who would look to you for guidance and leadership. You have given us integrity, honour and duty.
"You shine for us."
McGuinty also attended morning worship with the Queen at St. James Cathedral in Toronto on Sunday and sat in the front-row pew across the aisle from the Queen.
As the premier sat beside his wife, awaiting the Queen's arrival, he could barely sit still. He had a broad smile, kept fidgeting in his seat and turning around to see if the Queen had entered the church.
In Waterloo, Ont., where the Queen toured the facilities of BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion on Monday, the premier seemed really revved up before her arrival.
During the tour McGuinty had a perpetual smile on his face and was almost never more than a metre or so away from the Queen. At several points if she had stopped suddenly McGuinty ran the risk of bumping right into her.
When RIM co-founder Mike Lazaridis presented the Queen with a BlackBerry outside their offices, McGuinty actually took it out of her hands to show something to her on it.
If the Queen became weary of McGuinty's constant presence she did not show it.
McGuinty continued to fawn at the legislature ceremony Tuesday and at one point his hand hovered dangerously close to her back -- a major breach of protocol had the premier actually touched her.
The Queen went straight from the legislature to the airport, but McGuinty was there too.
With an earnest handshake and warm smile, he bid his fair Queen farewell.
