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Prince William: “We’ve been looking forward to this moment for a very long time”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are attending a citizenship ceremony near Ottawa to mark Canada Day.
On the second day of their first official overseas tour, the royal couple will present national flags to new Canadians.
The duchess wore a white dress and red hat – the colours of Canada’s flag.
Later, the royal pair will take part in the “Noon Show” celebrations, in which Canadians get together for a music and pageantry event in the capital.
During their nine-day visit to the country, they will go to seven cities.
It is a national holiday in Canada and some 350,000 people are expected to join the “Noon Show” celebrations on Parliament Hill which mark the country’s 144th birthday.
It will involve anthems, a flypast by military aircraft display team the Snowbirds, and a link-up with Canadian forces in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
During the event Prince William will make a short speech, followed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The royal couple will also attend a music concert in the evening, before attending a private diplomatic reception where they will watch a firework finale marking the national day.
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
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.
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.
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.
BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt says Canada is a safe first visit for a royal spreading her wings, while US residents continue to be fascinated by Britain’s royalty.
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Royals attend Canada Day events