Will and Kate announce plans for B.C., Yukon visit
Vancouver, Victoria, Haida Gwaii, Whitehorse on Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's itinerary next month
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced the itinerary for their first official visit to B.C. and Yukon, with stops in Vancouver, Victoria, Bella Bella, Haida Gwaii and Kelowna, B.C.
They will also be stopping in Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon.
Prince William and Kate's tour will take place between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, according to Kensington Palace.
Kensington Palace said the couple have "very happy memories" of their last visit to Canada in June and July 2011, when they were newlyweds.
They stopped in the National Capital Region, Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I., Yellowknife, Slave Lake and Calgary.
TRH hold very happy memories from their last visit to Canada in 2011 - their first overseas tour as a married couple <a href="https://t.co/5snXeRfSv2">pic.twitter.com/5snXeRfSv2</a>
—@KensingtonRoyalTheir children Prince George and Princess Charlotte will join Will and Kate on the tour, according to multiple reports, making their first visit to Canada.
"We are pretty confident we are going to see them just because it is a kind of shorter tour and because of the location of B.C. and it's a direct flight from London," said Amanda Dishaw, editor of the blog "What would Kate do."
She also speculated the couple might do "some of the outdoorsy stuff that Vancouver and British Columbia is well known for" and visit a winery.
"We might see her go to Stanley Park, potentially take George and Charlotte to the aquarium," Dishaw said.
"We may also see her do things like go to the North Shore. William, of course is a search and rescue pilot, so we may see them getting involved with North Shore search and rescue functions."
An official welcome to B.C. will be held on Sept. 24 in Victoria.
The couple will move on to meet representatives of Yukon communities on Sept. 28 in Whitehorse.
"During this tour, Their Royal Highnesses will shine a light on the dedication and service of many Canadians who are doing important work in our Northern and West Coast communities," said Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, in a statement.
Tour dates released by the Department of Canadian Heritage are:
- Sept. 24: Victoria.
- Sept. 25: Vancouver.
- Sept. 26: Bella Bella, B.C.
- Sept. 27: Victoria and Kelowna, B.C.; Whitehorse, Yukon.
- Sept. 28: Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon.
- Sept. 29: Victoria.
- Sept. 30: Haida Gwaii, B.C.
- Oct. 1: Victoria.
Events and activities along the Royal Family's trip will highlight the work Canadians are doing to preserve the environment, empower young people, improve mental health, encourage active living and highlight Indigenous culture and heritage, according a release from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Marilyn Slett, chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribe in Bella Bella, said the community is excited to welcome the royal guests.
"We really view this visit as an opportunity to move closer to reconciliation with Canada ... We hope this will gain a better understanding of one another," she said.
"I understand they have great interest in the Great Bear land use order. Heiltsuk territory is the heart of the Great Bear rainforest and we have done a lot of work over the last few decades around land preservation."
Slett added that one of the Heiltsuk chiefs was given a staff by the royal family in the 1800s and the community wants to share that story and learn more about ties between the Heiltsuk and the royals.
With files from Richard Zussman
