Mushy peas and double helpings of fish for Kate

THERE was a distinctly fishy theme to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s day yesterday.

After paddling a 25ft Haida war canoe in a remote archipelago off the west coast of Canada, they were greeted with a lunch of fish and mushy peas.

Then later, they tried their hands at fishing themselves on a trip with local young people, where the Duchess laughed as she picked up a freshly caught salmon.

Their day started with the couple joining 10 rowers to make a 25-minute journey in Haida Gwaii, formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, in British Columbia, on the penultimate day of their eight-day tour of Canada.

Rowing to the beat of a pace-setting drum, the helped power a fibreglass canoe that was a replica of the traditional red cedar vessels used by the Haida Nation for centuries.

They paddled from a jetty around to a beach and heritage centre at Skidegate on Graham Island.

Once safely on dry land, the couple enjoyed a lunch cooked by chef Edi Sazt, who had whipped up smoked sable fish with chanterelle mushrooms and sea asparagus. The chef said he had added a surprise twist to remind them of home: mushy peas.

Later in the day, they took a fishing trip with young islanders.

The cedar and spruce-covered islands, home to 5,000 people, of whom about a third belong to the Haida Nation, lie 62 miles off the northwest coast of British Columbia, covering 3,930 square miles.

Haida Gwaii means “Islands of the People” and archaeological evidence suggests the area has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years.

Today, the Duke and Duchess were due to visit a centre for victims of domestic violence and a cafe supporting children with mental health issues, both in Victoria.

They will later take to the water again in a tall ship with young sailors.

This afternoon, they will be joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, for a final glimpse of Canada before waving goodbye at Victoria Harbour Airport for their flight home.