'Chance of a lifetime': Big crowds greet royals in Yukon

Hundreds of people, from Yukon and beyond, filled several blocks in downtown Whitehorse this morning to greet Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The royal couple, who arrived in Yukon on Tuesday evening, began their first and only morning in Yukon with a visit to the MacBride Museum of History, followed by a stroll through a community festival along Front and Main streets.

• VIDEO | William and Kate begin Yukon tour with cultural celebration
• IN DEPTH | 2016 Royal Visit
• WATCH ON FACEBOOK | William and Kate arrive in Whitehorse

Crowds had started to gather outside the museum more than an hour before the royals arrived. Spectators caught a brief glimpse of them as they entered the museum, then waited another hour for them to emerge.

Jane Wright, a royal watcher visiting from Vancouver, called it a "chance of a lifetime, to get close."

"They're lovely people. They bring me to tears, actually, when I see them."

Inside the museum, the royals listened to stories and even became the first to send a tweet by telegraph — a new exhibit the museum installed just in time for the royal visit.  

• Will and Kate send royal tweet with Yukon telegraph

Street festival

After leaving the museum, the Duke and Duchess strolled through the city's downtown, where spectators had lined up to shake hands or catch a glimpse.

The community festival — billed as an opportunity to showcase young artists and performers — featured displays and performances by artists from organizations such as Bringing Youth Toward Equality (BYTE) and the Northern Cultural Expressions Studio.

There were breakdancers, young fiddlers, circus performers and a dance band, Major Funk and the Employment.

The royals then left Whitehorse, headed by air for Carcross, where they'll spend most of the rest of their day.

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation will greet them with a traditional welcome ceremony, before the royals stroll the Carcross Commons and visit a local carving shed. 

Afterwards, they'll meet with young mountain bikers on Montana Mountain, and learn about the Single Track to Success program — an initiative that has involved young people in building the bike trails as a way of promoting wellness.

Then, the royals head back to Whitehorse to take a flight at about 2:45 p.m. The departure from the airport is a public event, so spectators will be able to catch a final glimpse of Will and Kate before they head back to B.C.

CBC North live bloged the royals' morning in Whitehorse.

• On mobile? View the live blog here