London — One of Britain's most influential newspapers took a mixed view Saturday of the Queen's Golden Jubilee tour of Canada, describing Canadians as polite people who have subjected the Queen to a tedious schedule of events.

According to The Times, her stop in Hamilton, Ont., was probably one of the more enjoyable of her 12-day trip, even if the city comes across as a grubby industrial place.

"Having survived a week's Canadian touring beset with the perils of potential death by drowning, cold, boredom and listening to the rock band Tragically Hip, the Queen finally encountered something warm, comforting and familiar in the heart of Ontario: men in kilts," the newspaper reported.

The "potential death by drowning" appears to be a reference to a boat carrying the Queen across the Red River in Winnipeg breaking down last week, although the writer could be charged with hyperbole. The river taxi was never in danger of sinking.

The "men in kilts," meanwhile, were members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, who performed for the Queen — their colonel-in-chief — in Hamilton where she presented the regiment with new colours. Despite the fact the paper believes the event was more to the Queen's liking, it described the city in an unfavourable light as "a gritty, industrial cradle of blast furnaces and motor plants, despite its illustrious name."

In an attempt to explain Canada's history, the paper explores the importance of Scotland in the country's creation, at the expense, apparently, of the other founding nations. "Scots built Canada — although the French are alleged to have played some minor part — but the country now enjoys huge ethnic diversities," it said.

The British media have been critical of Canada during the Queen's visit, especially after the water taxi incident in Winnipeg.

But The Times piece also described Canadians as unfailingly polite and straightforward in a rather backhanded compliment.

"Rarely has she been showered with so many bouquets or been so free from republican rumblings," said the paper as it noted that Deputy Prime Minister John Manley's call to ditch the Queen "has been roundly scolded from coast to coast by newspapers and television channels, which have given the visit wall-to-wall coverage."

Nevertheless, The Times said despite the country's fascination with celebrity, the trip has probably tried the Queen's patience.

"Canadians are also such a polite and straightforward people that they have been genuinely mystified at British press criticism of that broken-down boat in Winnipeg, and saw nothing wrong in making the Queen sit through a set by the Tragically Hip band at the Roy Thomson Memorial Hall before she could hear the sublime piano-playing of Canada's greatest living musician, Oscar Peterson," said the paper.