Ottawa will be the first place royal watchers will be able to catch a glimpse of Prince William and his new bride, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on their tour of Canada in July.
On Monday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the itinerary of the couple’s seven-city tour, their first as husband and wife.
“Canadians hold the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in very high esteem and look forward to welcoming them as they embark on their first official Royal Tour as newlyweds,” he said.
"The couple’s decision to visit Canada first is a testament to our country’s close relationship with the Crown and Royal Family, and [it’s] an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our traditions, history, and institutions.
"I am confident that, in coming to know this country and its people better, the Duke and Duchess will develop their own enduring bonds of affection for Canada and Canadians as has been the case with Her Majesty The Queen over sixty years, which began with her own very first tour as Princess Elizabeth at the age of 25 in 1951."
The ambitious schedule allows the couple to visit every region of the country.
William and Catherine will celebrate Canada Day with the prime minister and others in Ottawa, and will then head to Montreal.
From there, the newlyweds will head to Quebec City, where they will mark the city’s birthday on July 3rd.
They will then travel to Prince Edward Island, stopping in Charlottetown and Summerside.
The area is home of the fictional character Anne of Green Gables, who fascinated the duchess as a child.
The couple will also visit Yellowknife and Calgary, arriving the day before the launch of the Calgary Stampede on July 8th.
After that, the couple will head to Los Angeles for a two-day visit.
Full details of their tour of Canada won’t be available until just before their arrival. The price tag will be kept under wraps until they leave for the U.S.
The couple has chosen the theme of the tour to be “Moving forward together: From past accomplishments to current service to future achievements.”
This will be Catherine’s first visit to Canada, a country her husband has toured twice.
Prince Charles took his two sons to Whistler, B.C. for a ski vacation in 1998. At the time, the young prince was met by crowds of screaming girls at Vancouver’s Waterfront Centre Hotel.
Prince William also accompanied his parents, Prince Charles and the late Diana, and his younger brother Harry on a royal tour of Ontario in 1991.
This is the third royal visit to Canada in two years. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, toured the country in 2009 and Queen Elizabeth visited with Prince Philip last summer.
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