William and Kate begin tour of Canada – BBC News
EP4PRO, September 25th, 2016, in ep4records
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Image copyright Handout Image caption It is the first official royal visit attended by both George and Charlotte
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Canada for their first royal tour with both of their children.
William and Catherine visited eastern Canada on their first tour together in 2011, but this time will take in the west of the country with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
It is 16-month-old Charlotte’s first official royal visit.
Canada, a federation of former British colonies, is part of the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth is its head of state.
The family landed in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, where they were greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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On their eight-day visit they will have about 30 official engagements, in which they will pay tribute to veterans of the Afghanistan conflict, visit pregnant women struggling with addiction, and meet First Nations communities, as well as Canada’s prime minister and his family.
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Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Prince George Australia and New Zealand with his parents in 2014
Royal visit ‘will help tell Canada’s story’
‘Paparazzi heaven’
“A match made in paparazzi heaven” is how one Canadian newspaper greeted the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would meet Mr Trudeau and his family.
Writing in The Globe and Mail, Daniel LeBlanc said the “glamorous” meeting would “add to the number of glitzy photo opps that have marked [Mr Trudeau’s] first year in power”.
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Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Trudeau and his wife Sophie have three young children including Ella-Grace, aged seven
Like the royal couple, Mr Trudeau is at ease in front of the cameras. The prime minister, previously a boxer and a nightclub bouncer, has become famous beyond the country’s borders and once surprised a reporter by accurately explaining the physics behind quantum computing.
But the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Janet Davison said the visit was “more than just photo opps” and was an attempt to “put a more modern glow” on the Royal Family, in a country where the Queen is the head of state but some people would prefer to move away from the monarchy.
The Vancouver Sun’s Steven Hume said locals in Victoria, where the Duke and Duchess will arrive, were “still crazy for” the royals although the proportion of people with British roots had declined.
ITINERARY
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24 Sept Victoria, British Columbia: The duke and duchess, accompanied by their children, arrive in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.
25 Sept Vancouver, British Columbia: The duke and duchess will visit Sheway, the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia – an event celebrating young leaders in Canadian arts, music, sport, charity, business, and film, and finally visit the Kitsilano coastguard station.
26 Sept Bella Bella and the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia: The duke and duchess will travel to the Great Bear Rainforest, visit the Heiltsuk First Nations community and attend a reception hosted by the province of British Columbia at Government House.
27 Sept Kelowna, British Columbia and Whitehorse, Yukon: The royals will tour the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia and take part in the BC government’s “Taste of British Columbia” festival at Mission Hill Winery before flying to Whitehorse, where they will be greeted by members of the Canadian Rangers.
28 Sept Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon: William and Catherine will visit the MacBride Museum and meet members of Whitehorse’s cultural community before travelling to Carcross, where they will be welcomed by the Carcross/Tagish First Nation.
29 Sept Victoria, British Columbia: The royal couple and their children attend a children’s party in the grounds of Government House, which will be attended by military families.
30 Sept Haida Gwaii, British Columbia: The duke and duchess visit Haida Gwaii, the archipelago on the northern coast of British Columbia, home to the Haida Nation. They will attend the opening of the new Haida Gwaii hospital and care centre. They will join local youths for a fishing expedition on the waters of Hecate Strait.
30 Sept Victoria, British Columbia: The royal couple will visit the Cridge Centre for the Family, which provides services and support for women who have experienced domestic violence. They will then meet families who have received support from the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre and later youth working with the Sail and Life Training Society. They end their tour with a public official departure ceremony at Victoria Harbour Airport.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37462662