Let them eat cake

Latest visit announcement from the Prime Minister's Web Site:

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER AND MRS. LAUREEN HARPER TO MEET WITH THEIR MAJESTIES KING CARL XVI GUSTAF AND QUEEN SILVIA OF SWEDEN

You know, with all these foreign dignitaries visiting, you get the impression it's the thing statesmen do. If so, why don't we ever hear of Canada sending similar dignitaries (I dare propose the GG) to maintain good relations with other countries? Or are we too critical of such "frivolous" spending? (Or, yet again, is it because it would infringe on the PM's election campaign photo ops?)