Ontario, Iqaluit prepare for royal tour

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, land in Canada on Tuesday to kick off a seven-day visit.

Their trip is billed as a working visit which includes stops in Ontario and the Arctic.

The Queen's youngest son and his wife have visited Canada many times, but this will be their first trip to the North.

Their visit begins in Ottawa and will include stops in Iqaluit and the Ontario cities of Trenton, Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Midland.

The couple serve as colonels-in-chief to a number of Canadian Forces regiments and are patrons of a number of Canadian charitable and community organizations.

On Tuesday evening, they will address members of the Royal Victorian Order Association of Canada during a reception at Rideau Hall. The order rewards extraordinary, important or personal services performed for the sovereign or the royal family.

On Wednesday, the royal pair will tour the Canadian War Museum and visit the RCMP Musical Ride Centre in Ottawa. They fly to Iqaluit on Thursday.

This is Prince Edward's 33rd visit to Canada and his wife's ninth.