Last updated at 4:24 PM on 4th July 2011
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 - who designed her wedding dress. She teamed the outfit with navy blue 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.
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
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.
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
The much-loved Anne of Green Gables is a novel written in 1908 by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Set in 1878, it is the story of a couple from Avonlea on Prince Edward Island who, when they decide to adopt an orphan to help on their farm, are mistakenly sent a girl instead of a boy.
The girl is the precocious, red-haired 11-year-old Anne Shirley and Montgomery follows her adventures, and misadventures, through nine books as she grows up.
The Anne stories have been turned into several movies and a number of television series as well as selling more than 50 million copies.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Quebec separatists are angry that Canada still has ties to the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is still the country's head of state.
Welcoming: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Province house in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, escorted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers
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
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.
After a military band played the first six bars of 'God Save the Queen,' Prince William made brief remarks entirely in French.
'You, the Quebecois et Quebecoise, have such vitality and a remarkable pride. We are simply delighted to be here,' he said.
Undeterred by the nearby protesters, Prince William and Kate charmed the Quebeckers with an unexpected walkabout.
Mobbed: Prince William proves a big hit with Canadians as he meets fans
The royal couple went to the barricade, chatting and shaking hands with enthusiastic supporters in the square around City Hall before leaving by motorcade.
Support for the separatists among Quebeckers has been on the decline in recent years as the 80 per cent French-speaking province has enjoyed plenty of autonomy even without quitting Canada.
Waving the flag: Schoolchildren were among thousands of fans who waited for a chance of a glimpse of the Royal couple
Explore more:
- People:
- Sarah Burton
- Places:
- Cambridge,
- Montreal,
- Canada,
- United Kingdom,
- City Hall
- Organisations:
- Royal Air Force
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011104/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-arrive-welcoming-ceremony-Prince-Edward-Island.html#ixzz1R9PJhyf2
