The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are visiting Vancouver on Day 2 of the Royal Visit 2016 Sunday.
READ MORE: Full coverage of the royal visit
Prince William and Kate left their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, behind and started their trip to Vancouver on a float plane. Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress.
PHOTOS: Will and Kate in Vancouver for Day 2 of the Royal Visit
Watch below: Hundreds gather as Prince William and Kate arrive in Vancouver
READ MORE: Highlights from Day 1 of the Royal Visit – Will and Kate arrive in Victoria, B.C.
The royals landed in the harbour at Jack Poole Plaza just before 11 a.m., where they were greeted by British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and First Nations representatives.
Several hundred royal admirers were ready to greet them, cheering and waving Canadian flags. The couple took flowers and shook hands with those in the crowd, as fans yelled “Kate! Kate!”
PHOTOS: Will, Kate, Prince George and Princess Charlotte land in Victoria
From there they travelled to Vancouver’s downtown Eastside, where they met members of Sheway, a charity that has helped vulnerable mothers who are battling addiction. Hundreds of people were lined up in anticipation of the royals.
READ MORE: Royal Visit 2016 – Will and Kate visit Sheway pregnancy outreach program
A staff member introduced the couple to a five-year-old girl, who gave them each teddy bears.
“George would love this,” William said, referring to his son, as he accepted a teddy bear in a black vest.
Click through the gallery below to see royal admirers lined up at Sheway:
Sheway began in 1993 and prior to their work in the area, babies born to mothers with substance abuse issues had their babies taken away from them at birth. The link between addiction and family breakdown has previously been a major priority of Duchess Kate’s charitable work.
Watch below: Little girl gives Will and Kate stuffed teddy bears during tour of Sheway House in east Vancouver
READ MORE: ‘Hey Kate!’ Global’s Sonia Deol meets the Duchess of Cambridge on Royal Visit
The couple then visited the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, which supports more than 25,000 migrants to Canada each year, including some of the refugees who arrived in Canada over the past year after fleeing the war in Syria. Trudeau and his wife met the couple there, where they chatted while people in the crowd took photos and cheered.
The royals met with staff members and refugees as Trudeau described the Canadian government’s efforts to welcome 25,000 refugees to the country. One refugee from Afghanistan told William the society had helped him learn new skills through a technology course; a Syrian family staying at the ISS welcome house described their impressions of Canada.
Watch below: Justin Trudeau and his wife speak with families at the Immigrant Services Society of Vancouver
The Duke and Duchess, along with the Trudeaus, then headed outside where the royals marked the official opening of the Edith Lando playground by unveiling a plaque.
Next on the schedule, they went to an event celebrating young leaders in Canadian arts, music, sport, charity, business and film. The British Monarchy said the royals were excited to meet with people of their generation.
Watch below: Global’s coverage of Day 1 of the Royal Visit
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Day one of the Royal Visit to Canada -
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Prince William and Kate walk the red carpet to cheers from thousands gathered -
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Prince William jokes about his rusty french -
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Justin Trudeau offers Prince William and Kate some parenting advice for their visit -
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B.C. Premier Christy Clark references great, great, great, great, great grandmother of Prince George and Princess Charlotte -
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Prince William and Kate meet the crowd and depart from B.C. legislature -
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Prince William very pleased to be back in Canada along with his family -
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Prince William and Kate arrive to cheers at B.C. legislature in Victoria
The final engagement of the day saw Prince William and Kate visit the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station in Vanier Park. They met with other first responders, including police and fire services and social workers. Over 400 people had gathered to meet the royal couple by 2 p.m.
WATCH: Prince George refuses to high five Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The Kits Coast Guard base was closed in February 2013, and the decision to re-open it was one of the promises Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made to voters in B.C. before the election.
Watch below: Justin Trudeau and his wife join Prince William and Kate in a tour of the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station
The following road closures were in effect:
- Full Closure of 1000 Canada Place from 10:15 am to 11:15 am
- Seawall Delays or Closures at Vancouver Convention Centre – 10:15 am to 11:15 am
- Local Traffic Only – Whyte Avenue – 12:00 pm – 4:15 pm
- Full Closure – Whyte Avenue – 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm
- Seawall Delays or Closures – Vanier Park – 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The City of Vancouver warned of temporary road closures throughout the day related to the movements of the motorcade.
At the end of their visit to Vancouver, the royals departed on the Coast Guard’s hovercraft before flying back to Victoria for the evening.
Watch below: The Prime Minister and his wife joined Prince William and his wife Kate in preparation for a ride aboard a Canadian coast guard hovercraft at the conclusion of their tour of Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Sunday.
With files from Global’s John Hua and Erika Tucker and The Canadian Press
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