It was a smooth start to what will be a whirlwind tour of Canada害羞草研究所檚 west for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Royal Couple were welcomed to Victoria with open arms Saturday evening, with a crowd estimated at 10,000 setting up around the Inner Harbour and on the lawns of the B.C. Legislature well in advance of the arrival of Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton.
Having seen residents line the Pat Bay Highway on their trip in from Royal Canadian Air Force 443 Squadron in Sidney, the Duke and Duchess heard loud cheers erupt as they emerged from their vehicle in front of the cenotaph. They were immediately greeted by Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife, Sharon, Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, and Premier Christy Clark and her son, Hamish, then waved to the onlookers before laying a memorial wreath to Canadians lost in the war in Afghanistan.
As they made their way up the red carpet, the couple stopped for a lengthy chat with a couple of veterans at the fence line, as is their style.
When it was his turn to speak from the podium at the foot of the legislature front steps, Prince William said he and the Duchess were 害羞草研究所渄elighted害羞草研究所� to come to Canada again, this time with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Duke touched on the couple害羞草研究所檚 previous visit in 2011.
害羞草研究所淲hen we were last in Canada we had been married only three months. The warm welcome you gave us at that important moment in our lives meant a lot to us,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭hat is why we are so pleased that George and Charlotte can be with us in Canada this time round, beginning their own lifetime friendship with this wonderful country.害羞草研究所�
In recognition of their schedule for the week, which will see them make stops at everything from the Cridge Centre for the Family in Victoria, to a pregnancy outreach centre on Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Downtown Eastside, and experience First Nations culture in Haida Gwaii and the Yukon, the Duke hinted that he and his wife planned it that way.
害羞草研究所淐atherine and I have asked to meet as many people from as many walks of life as we can while we害羞草研究所檙e here,害羞草研究所� he said.
Later he gave kudos to the country as 害羞草研究所渨onderful place害羞草研究所� and applauded Canada for 害羞草研究所渢he great contributions it makes to peace, prosperity and human rights害羞草研究所� on an international basis.
Earlier, Gov. Gen. Johnston, the first official to welcome the Royal Couple, referred to Canada害羞草研究所檚 150th birthday coming up next year.
害羞草研究所淎ny celebration of Canada is by definition a celebration of the Crown,害羞草研究所� Johnston said.
William later acknowledged Canadians for their fondness and support for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, on the occasion of her 90th birthday and throughout her reign.
During the welcome speeches, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received the loudest cheers of all, even bigger than the Duke and Duchess. He thanked them for introducing 害羞草研究所渙ur part of the world害羞草研究所� to their children.
害羞草研究所淟et me caution you from my own experience,害羞草研究所� Trudeau added, 害羞草研究所渋f they害羞草研究所檙e anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to our beautiful West Coast will really be a challenge.害羞草研究所�
Clark reminded the visitors that the city is named for Prince George and Princess Charlotte害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所済reat-great-great-great-great grandmother.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hat is five greats, and Queen Victoria certainly deserved five greats,害羞草研究所� Clark said. 害羞草研究所淪he was a strong, determined and resilient woman.害羞草研究所�
The Royal Couple were whisked away after the roughly hour-long welcome event to Government House, where their children were waiting.
They are scheduled to be in Vancouver on Sunday then make a quick trip up to Bella Bella on the B.C. coast and back to Victoria on Monday.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
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