Royal visit
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed their first full day of their Canadian tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continued to charm Canadians on the second day of their visit to British Columbia and Yukon on Sunday. The couple, without Prince George and Princess Charlotte, left Victoria on a float plane and arrived at Vancouver’s Jack Poole Plaza, where several hundred royal fans gave them a noisy welcome. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and representatives of First Nations greeted them on the wharf. The royal couple were dressed semi-formally for their visit to Vancouver, with William wearing a blazer and tie. Kate was wearing a red-and-white patterned dress by the late British designer Alexander McQueen, with her hair down, red shoes and a red purse. The pair walked down a pathway through the crowd shaking hands and taking flowers, as well-wishers frantically snapped photos on their iPhones and cameras.
Will greeted one side of the crowd while Kate spoke on the other. Both spent time talking with people and appeared to be trying to shake hands with everyone they could. As the pair finally got into a vehicle and left in a motorcade, there were cheers and cries of “Kate! Kate!’’ Prince William told thousands at the legislature shortly after their arrival Saturday that he and Kate want to meet as many Canadians, from as many walks of life, as possible during their visit.
The couple’s first stop Sunday will be to the city’s notorious Downtown Eastside, where they’ll visit Sheway, a pregnancy outreach program for women with drug and alcohol addictions who are pregnant or parenting. A small crowd gathered outside the outreach centre in hopes of seeing or even speaking with the duke and duchess. Tamara Gardner, from the Vancouver suburb of Maple Ridge, brought along her 15-year-old daughter, Victoria, for the visit. The pair held a bright neon sign with a picture of the Queen, taken at Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday.
“It’s very exciting,’’ Gardner said. “And it’s special to see them with my daughter.’’ Some of the spectators came dressed for the occasion.
Keira Latta, who is 5, sported a Snow White dress under her fleece poncho. Her grandmother, Nadine Ward, had a novelty crown perched on her head.
“I just love the royals. I have a whole living room filled with books and magazines about them,’’ Ward said. Also on Sunday, Will and Kate will stop at the Immigrant Service Society, host a reception for young Canadians making important contributions to their communities, and get a first-hand look at the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station. The coast guard station may hold some special interest for Prince William, who works as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance.