Monday, 4 July 2011

Kate of Green Gables: Duchess of Cambridge's joy as she steps back in time to home of her favourite novel

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Visit: William and Kate arrive at Prince Edward Island watched by a number of fans who had dressed up in period costume for the occasion

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived for an official welcoming ceremony at Prince Edward Island today - the setting for the novel Anne of Green Gables.

They arrived in a horse-drawn coach to the delight of thousands more fans who waited patiently for hours for a chance of a glance of the newly-weds.

Kate was seen wearing a cream pencil dress by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. She teamed the outfit with black heels.

Prince William was preparing to put his military helicopter training to the test with his first attempt at a water landing before crowds later today.

Lady in white: Kate wore a cricket style outfit for the occasion which she teamed with navy shoes. The Royal couple were met by hundreds of cheering fans

The couple moved on to Prince Edward Island after charming hundreds of fans yesterday in predominantly French-speaking Quebec despite the presence of anti-monarchy protesters nearby.

Prince William, a Royal Air Force rescue helicopter pilot, requested the training exercise at Prince Edward Island as part of his visit.

Canada is the only country that trains its Sea King helicopter pilots to do a controlled landing on water should there be an emergency.

The Sea King, which William flies back in the U.K, has the ability to land on water because of its amphibious hull.

Great excitement: Kate shakes hands and chats with well-wishers in the crowd outside Province House

Curtsey: An actor dressed in period costume meets the Prince outside Province House

The couple later will also take part in a dragon boat race at Prince Edward Island, with the two steering opposing teams.

The newlyweds on Monday were on the fifth of a nine-day trip to Canada, part of their first official overseas trip since their April 29 wedding.

They leave for a three-day trip to California on July 8.

Welcoming: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Province house in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, escorted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers

On Sunday the couple thrilled hundreds of adoring fans in Quebec with an unscheduled walkabout in a city that was the site of the key British victory in the conquest of the French - a historical event not forgotten by French-speaking separatists protesting nearby.

The Quebec visit hit a nerve among French-speaking separatists. Prince William and Kate had a private lunch at the Citadelle, a fortified residence where the British flag was raised at the end of the pivotal 1759 Battle of Quebec, when British forces defeated the French to seal the conquest of New France.

Mounted guard: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were driven through the streets in a horse-drawn landau with Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz and his wife Kate Ellis

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are officially known, encountered small but vocal protests for the second straight day during their visit to predominantly French-speaking Quebec, following protests in Montreal.

'What they've seen in Quebec, in Montreal the last two days is, for them, just part of the rich fabric of Canada and in no way detracts from how much they respect and admire the country,' said the couple's spokesman, Miguel Head.

'They've very much fallen in love with the country.'

The jeers contrasted with the start of the royal couple's Canadian trip in the largely English-speaking capital, Ottawa, where they were cheered by tens of thousands of people on Friday's Canada Day holiday.

Mobbed: Prince William proves a big hit with Canadians as he meets fans

Quebec separatists are angry that Canada still has ties to the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is still the country's head of state.

Police were out in force in downtown Quebec City. About 200 protesters, some wearing black and waving flags, demonstrated about two blocks from City Hall, where Prince William, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, attended a ceremony to honour and inspect the Royal 22e Regiment, the most famous French-speaking unit in the Canadian military.

A larger crowd of several hundred supporters, chanting 'Will and Kate' were allowed closer to City Hall and greeted the royal motorcade with loud cheers when it arrived.

Waving the flag: Schoolchildren were among thousands of fans who waited for a chance of a glimpse of the Royal couple

source: dailymail