William and Catherine, Prince George, Princess Charlotte & Prince Louis

Canadians joined the Commonwealth and indeed the world in celebrating the engagement and subsequently the Royal Wedding of Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, to Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011. Only a few months later, the most exuberant Royal Tour in Canadian history – and the couple’s first overseas tour – took place as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – universally and affectionately referred to as William and Kate – traveled to many parts of Canada June 30-July 8. Massive crowds hailed them everywhere, responding to both the dignified and fun elements of the program, with over a million people gathering to welcome them in both Ottawa and Calgary! The tour was the more important as an encourage of national unity given the warm welcome TRHs’ received in Quebec.

The announcement that William and Catherine would come home to Canada in the Fall of 2016 for an extensive tour of British Columbia and Yukon brought no less excitement, with the chosen locations reflecting William’s role as an Honorary Canadian Ranger. It was believed that the tour would strengthen further the heir’s links with Canada which began when in 1998 he and his brother Prince Harry had skiied with their father in Whistler, BC, after a day of engagements in Vancouver during which the boys accompanied their father.