Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lay a wreath at Canada’s National War Memorial
Canada’s Governor General has welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ottawa at the start of their first official overseas tour.
“Welcome to Canada – honeymoon capital of the Commonwealth,” David Johnston said.
Prince William began his address in French – Canada’s official language alongside English – and promised it would improve during the tour.
The duke and duchess earlier visited Canada’s National War Memorial.
Prince William laid a wreath at the memorial and his wife Kate placed a bouquet of flowers before leaving for their official welcome at Rideau Hall – where they will be staying while in Ottawa.
Crowds were already gathering along the route to the residence before their plane had landed and the royal couple were greeted with full military honours.
BBC correspondent Jane Hill says among the “sea of people” at Rideau Hall are many women wearing fascinators – the style of headwear often favoured by the duchess.
The royal couple will later attend a barbecue hosted by Mr Johnston.
The couple will visit seven Canadian cities before heading to the US on their nine-day visit.
Analysis
Peter Hunt BBC royal correspondent
They are the British and, indeed, the Canadian monarchy’s future.
The enthusiastic, large crowds were keen to catch a glimpse of their future king and queen – this in a country where, according to a recent opinion poll, almost half of its citizens think the monarchy “is a relic of a colonial past that has no place in Canada today”.
The dissenters weren’t in evidence today. The streets were filled by the dedicated and the curious.
They saw a much talked about “fresh and modern” royal couple carry out a tried and tested programme of engagements, including a speech by Prince William in English and French.
He’ll be partially bilingual for the next nine days as he tours a country which has had both French and British monarchs.
Canada is a member of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II is its head of state.
On Friday, the duke and duchess, who married in April, will celebrate Canada’s national day. Thousands of people are expected to gather on Ottawa’s streets to glimpse the royal couple.
The pair will also visit Quebec, Prince Edward Island, where they are to participate in a dragon boat race, and Calgary.
In Calgary they will open the Calgary Stampede – an annual rodeo and festival dubbed the “greatest outdoor show on Earth”.
Canada has created a new royal flag for the visit, which features three maple leaves, from Canada’s national tree, at its base.
The flag flew from the cockpit of the jet carrying the royal couple when it touched down from the UK on Thursday afternoon local time. It will also fly from their cars and buildings they are visiting or staying in.
The visit will be closely followed by the media, with nearly 1,400 journalists – including about 100 from Britain – accredited to cover the visit.
The Duchess of Cambridge has reportedly packed up to 40 different outfits for the tour.
She left London wearing a dress by French designer Roland Mouret and a blazer by Canadian label Smythe les Vestes and changed into a navy lace dress by Erdem Moralioglu during the flight to Ottawa.
Mosha Lundstrom Halbert, associate fashion news editor at Canadian fashion magazine Flare, said Kate’s choice of clothing was symbolic.
2011 itinerary highlights
- 30 June: Arrival in Ottawa.
- 1 July: Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa
- 2 July: Visit to a cookery school in Montreal
- 3 July: Freedom of the city ceremony in Quebec City
- 4 July: Prince William takes part in Sea King helicopter training session on Prince Edward Island
- 5 July: Visit to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories
- 7 July: Arrival in Calgary
- 8 July: Attend Calgary Stampede. Leave for US
“It’s very exciting,” she said. “To me, Erdem really represents the crossover between British and Canada fashion. He’s really established in the UK but Canada is where he was born and raised.”
BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt says Canada is a safe first visit for a royal spreading her new wings, while US residents continue to be fascinated by Britain’s royalty.
The cost of the visit to the Canadian government, not including security, is estimated to be 1.4 million Canadian dollars (£958,580).
A poll commissioned by the Toronto Star newspaper found that more than half the 18 to 34 year-olds questioned about the visit were indifferent about the trip.
Canadian secretary to the Queen Kevin MacLeod, who has co-ordinated the tour, said: “I think, given the dynamism of this couple, (they) continue to reaffirm the important role the Crown plays in this country.”
The duke and duchess will travel to the US state of California for two days from 8 July, attending a black-tie Bafta reception and dinner in Los Angeles on 9 July. Prince William is Bafta’s president.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the original post:
Prince William and Kate welcomed