Canada royal tour: Prince William and Kate welcomed

[Gerald]

Canada's governor general has welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ottawa at the start of the royal couple's first official overseas tour.

"Welcome to Canada - honeymoon capital of the Commonwealth," David Johnston said before crowds at Government House.

Prince William, who began his address in French, Canada's official language alongside English, said he and his wife had had a "longing" to visit together.

The duke and duchess earlier visited Canada's National War Memorial.
'Geography unsurpassed'

The couple will be staying at Government House - also known as Rideau Hall - while in Ottawa.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke after the governor general, saying: "Your journey across our fair Dominion marks the beginning of your journey into the hearts of Canadians. We wish you all the best on both counts.

"We are both honoured and delighted that you have chosen us for your first official tour together."

Prince William responded: "Merci beaucoup, Votre Excellence et Monsieur le Premier Ministre, pour votre accueil chaleureux."

This was translated live on Canadian television as: "Thank you very much Your Excellency and Prime Minister for your warm welcome."

The duke continued: "Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada.

Prince William: "We've been looking forward to this moment for a very long time"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13979606


Note: 1 July 2011 Last updated at 02:07 GMT

[Herr-Berbunch]

Kate's looking a bit too thin for my liking.

[Gerald]

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Kate's looking a bit too thin for my liking.

Diana all over again.

BTW: Your not the first to say that or the last.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Kate's looking a bit too thin for my liking.

I'll gladly pad her out for you if you like

[vienna]

The Royals are due in Los Angeles July 8 through 10 and people are already beginning to moan about the possible street and freeway closures due to their royal prescence. This is compounded by the fact street/freeway closures are not generally publicized in advance due to security concerns and, when closures do occur, they are likely to invlove several parallel streets along the way as a security "buffer". If you have never beenn to Los Angeles, the car culture is very heavy duty here and the closure of a main artery, if for only a brief time, causes all sorts of headaches. The local celebs and politicos are drooling over the chance to meet and be photographed with the royals. The rest of us are just going to fume and complain in our gridlock while considering maybe the French revolutionaries had a good idea about those guillotines...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by vienna

The Royals are due in Los Angeles July 8 through 10 and people are already beginning to moan about the possible street and freeway closures due to their royal prescence. This is compounded by the fact street/freeway closures are not generally publicized in advance due to security concerns and, when closures do occur, they are likely to invlove several parallel streets along the way as a security "buffer". If you have never beenn to Los Angeles, the car culture is very heavy duty here and the closure of a main artery, if for only a brief time, causes all sorts of headaches. The local celebs and politicos are drooling over the chance to meet and be photographed with the royals. The rest of us are just going to fume and complain in our gridlock while considering maybe the French revolutionaries had a good idea about those guillotines...

I do sympathise and understand the dynamics involved but I suspect they were invited over

[Gerald]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will continue their official tour of Canada with a visit to the province of Quebec.

There the royal couple are expected to face protests from a small group of separatists.

They will first go to Montreal and visit both a world-renowned children's hospital and a cookery school.

On Friday, the duke and duchess were guests of honour as they celebrated Canada Day with about 100,000 people in the capital Ottawa.

Events in Ottawa climaxed with a lavish fireworks display.

The duke and duchess were at the heart of this year's celebrations marking the birth of Canada.

The duchess will later experience yet another aspect of her new life when she helps her husband plant a tree in the grounds of Government House in Ottawa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14000369


Note: Update Record,2 July 2011 Last updated at 07:23 GMT

[vienna]

I do sympathise and understand the dynamics involved but I suspect they were invited over

Yes, they were...by the very same politicos and celebs who are drooling over the arrival. Most people in Los Angeles wouldn't mind the visits of dignitaries if only the logistics were handled better. During a recent visit by Obama, he was transported by motorcade across the city, during rush hour, on a peak working day causing a nightmare of traffic problems. The problems could have been avoided if he had helicoptered to the venues rather than been motorcaded. The local coservative/right-wing radio and TV personalities predictably railed at Obama claiming an abuse of power and/or privilege; however, I recall the same situations occuring everytime Reagan motocaded through Los Angeles during and after his presidency. In addition to the occasional visits by VIPs, Los Angeles drivers and other citizens have to put up with street closures due to filming and other events. I live in Hollywood and increasingly streets are closed off for film premieres and private social events to which the public is not even invited. The only people benefiting directly seem to be the celebs, politicos, and the organizers of the events...

I do want to point out one event in Los Angeles which the royals will attend that does have a positive benefit. They will be attending a job fair held for unemployed veterans. Their announced attendance has dragged out of the corporate woodwork all manner of employers who are participating in hopes of meeting the royals. At least the vets will be given an opportunity they might not have gotten otherwise...

[Jimbuna]

Here's hoping your veterans receive some tangible benefits as a result

[vienna]

Roger That!...

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Vendor

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will continue their official tour of Canada with a visit to the province of Quebec.

There the royal couple are expected to face protests from a small group of separatists.

They will first go to Montreal and visit both a world-renowned children's hospital and a cookery school.

On Friday, the duke and duchess were guests of honour as they celebrated Canada Day with about 100,000 people in the capital Ottawa.

Events in Ottawa climaxed with a lavish fireworks display.

The duke and duchess were at the heart of this year's celebrations marking the birth of Canada.

The duchess will later experience yet another aspect of her new life when she helps her husband plant a tree in the grounds of Government House in Ottawa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14000369


Note: Update Record,2 July 2011 Last updated at 07:23 GMT

The vast majority of people here in Quebec are quite indifferent to the visit, but much too polite to be rude to visiting guests, but of course the media have to try to paint events as though there were massive protests:

Royals heckled by protesters in Montreal

After adulatory crowds in Ottawa, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's tour of Canada enters tricky phase in Quebec

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ed-in-montreal



I see maybe 5-6 nutjobs, hardly a massive protest...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

The vast majority of people here in Quebec are quite indifferent to the visit, but much too polite to be rude to visiting guests, but of course the media have to try to paint events as though there were massive protests:

I see maybe 5-6 nutjobs, hardly a massive protest...

Agreed...there are probably bigger protests here in some parts of the UK.

[Captain Titanic]

Damn it where's a Wolfpack when you need one

[Gerald]

The Duke of Cambridge has landed a Sea King helicopter on water as part of his tour of Canada with his wife, Kate.

The RAF search and rescue pilot had requested the exercise ahead of a day of activities on Prince Edward Island.

Canada is the only country to train its pilots to perform "waterbird" landings, in which the helicopter's engine is cut before it is landed on water.

The couple later went head-to-head as they steered teams of dragon boat racers across Dalvay Lake.

William was guided through the tricky manoeuvre in the Sea King by Col Sam Michaud from the Canadian Forces, who described the royal as "relaxed and professional".

At one point, he hovered around 40ft (12m) above the water, then plunged quickly out of the sky, sending spray up into the air.

Col Michaud said the duke told him his colleagues back home would be jealous he got to do it.

When the duke and duchess took to Dalvay Lake on opposing dragon boat teams, they began rowing furiously along the 200ft course, with William's team crossing the line marginally ahead.

As he was presented with a bottle of champagne as his prize, he said "there's no chivalry in sport".

The couple later took part in a traditional "smudging" ceremony led by Mi'kmaq chiefs in which sage leaves were lit in a bowl and the smoke wafted towards the couple with an eagle wing.

Kate cupped her hands and wafted the fumes up to her face first, followed by William who exchanged a few words with the elder.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14012948



Note: Update Record. 5 July 2011 Last updated at 02:47 GMT