- Thousands of cheering fans turn out to welcome the Royal couple to Ottawa
- Kate looks poised and natural as she laughs and smiles with the crowds
- Prince William flits between English and French in touching speech at welcome event
By Rebecca English, Fiona Roberts and Richard Hartley-parkinson
Last updated at 2:09 AM on 1st July 2011
The Duchess of Cambridge won the hearts of a nation today the moment she placed one elegantly-shod foot on Canadian soil.
Actually, there were three pairs of shoes - and three changes of clothes – all of which were scrutinised and approved by an adoring public.
On their first afternoon of their 11-day tour of Canada and the US, Kate and her husband, Prince William, sparked the type of hysteria normally reserved for the likes of home-grown popstar Justin Beiber.
What a natural: Kate shows she can work the crowd as delighted Canadians swoon
Overwhelming affection: The Duchess looks ecstatic as she shakes hand with the crowd and clutches bunches of flowers presented by Royal fans lining the streets
Prince Charming: William shows he also has a fine touch with the crowd, as Kate, right, charms more of her adoring fans
As she left the UK the new Duchess looked business-like in a smart – if slightly bland – £575 blazer with gold buttons by Toronto-based designer Smythe les Vestes – in homage to her hosts - a form fitting dress by London-based Roland Mouret and towering Calogera stilletos by Sex And The City favourite Manolo Bhlanik.
She also carried an £895 Mulberry handbag as she and Prince William left London’s Heathrow Airport on a Canadian airforce jet for their first foreign tour as a royal couple.
Fluttering from the cockpit was the prince’s new Canadian royal standard, created especially for the tour.
During the seven hour forty minute flight, Kate performed a flawless turnaround, changing into a dress by the hugely fashionable designer Erdem Moralioglu, favoured by Samantha Cameron and Michelle Obama. Erdem is another Canadian designer born in Montreal.
The dress was a navy, lace Cecile shift scoop-backed dress of contrast stone crepe with a navy lace overlay. The dress also had a sheer lace sleeve with a scallop detail.
At ease: Kate smiles as she receives flowers from the Royal fans who lined up to meet the newlyweds at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport today. Tomorrow they will take part in National Canada Day
Mobbed: Prince William almost disappears beneath a sea of Royal fans wielding cameras. One woman even seemed to be wearing a replica of his wife's engagement ring
On her feet were her favoured £175 cream LK Bennett pumps that she has worn on several public occasions of late.
Later the Duchess then paraded her third outfit of the day at an informal barbecue - a black and white 'bird' dress by Issa, one of her favourite designers.
Unfortunately the heavens opened just in time for the evening event, for 120 of the cream of Canadian youth at the Governor-General's 175 room mansion Rideau Hall.
As the couple's official car drew up along the red carpet this afternoon they were greeted by the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen.
Outfit No1: A smart blazer by Smythe les Vestes
Outfit No2: A navy lace dress by Erdem Moralioglu
Outfit No3: A black and white 'bird' dress by Issa
The 10,000 strong crowd, waving Canadian flags and flowers, cheered wildly as they stepped out.
Tanned Kate looked particularly delighted at the warm reception and waved shyly.
The foursome approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and stood in quiet contemplation as the Last Post was played by a lone trumpeter.
GLITTERING KATE: QUEEN OFFERS DUCHESS THE PICK OF HER JEWELS
The Mail can reveal that the Queen has given the new Duchess the pick of her fabulous collection of jewels for the 11-day trip.
The monarch, who is said to be extremely fond of her grandson’s new bride, wants Kate to shine on her first major test as a member of the Royal Family.
A few weeks ago she invited the 29-year-old Duchess into Buckingham Palace to choose from her priceless collection of tiaras, necklaces and bracelets.
Some, such as the legendary Delhi Durbar diamond and emerald necklace, belong to the Queen personally, while others are held by the monarch on behalf of the nation.
A source said: 'Although, given the largely informal theme of the tour, particularly in Canada, there is no need for tiaras or the like, the Queen owns one of the most valuable collections of jewellery.
‘The Duchess was touched by her offer. She has picked out one or two exquisite pieces she wishes to borrow.
'Her choices were made with a particular eye on the Los Angeles leg of the trip, where she knows she needs to dazzle.’
William then placed a large wreath on the monument while his wife leant forwards to put down a small posey. The duchess warmly greeted the woman who had handed it to her, Mabel Girouard.
Mrs Girouard's son Bobby, 46, was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2006 and she was chosen by the Canadian Legion as their Memorial Silver Cross Mother.
As they left the memorial the couple undertook what will be the first of many walkabouts, sending the crowd into a frenzy – and there were as many screams for William as there were for Kate.
The Duchess looked delighted as she was handed armfuls of flowers and gifts.
'Thank you so much. We are so delighted to be here,' she said.
Occasionally she looked over to her husband on the other side of the crowd to make sure she was moving quickly enough.
William looked equally thrilled as one woman told him: 'Canada is so happy you are here.' 'Thank you, that is so kind ,' he replied.
Jennifer Baldwin, 19, drove for 21 hours from her home in Bloomington, Illinois, and stood in the street from 5.30am to see the couple at close quarters.
She said: 'I talked to William and congratulated him on the wedding and he said "thank you very much", he's so polite!
'My mum told him we had come from the US and he said: "We're going there next."
'It was completely worth the journey just for that five seconds. I mean, I shook his hand!'
Francine Dorion, 50, gave the Duchess a tapestry she had made, featuring a picture of the couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day.
She said: 'Kate said it was beautiful and thanked me for doing it for them. She is so pretty and reminds me of Diana. She just steals you.'
As she waited for the prince to finish Kate chatted with the Prime Minister and his wife and told them: 'That was so amazing, there were so many people there.... How many do you think?
'We have been on the go since 7.30 this morning so it's been a long day.'
As the couple got into their official car, her first test over, Kate leant into her husband's shoulder and grinned broadly with undisguised relief.
Afterwards they drove to Government House where they were greeted by the Queen’s representative in Canada, the Governor General David Johnston.
They immediately threw themselves into their second walkabout in less than half an hour, as part of their attempt to meet as many Canadians as possible.
Elegant: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk down the steps of the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft after they landed in blustery Ottawa this afternoon
A natural: The Duchess of Cambridge stayed poised and elegant despite the windy conditions, with her hair in a demi-chignon, and again displayed her affection for children as she spent several minutes talking to Kellen Schlever, who presented her with a beautiful posy of pink roses
Kate stopped to chat to Anna Piatek, five, who gave her a painting she had done of the roal wedding. 'It's' beautiful, you’re so sweet,’ she said.
The Duke and Duchess were then honoured with a 21-Gun salute after which William inspected a guard of honour.
Kate noticeably did not sing the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, when it was played, although aides insisted she had learnt the words in preparation for her visit.
William gave his first speech of the tour in both French and English, the first time he has been heard speaking in the foreign language in public.
He paid tribute to his hosts, saying: 'Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada. Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who love this country, we have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time - and before we were married, we both had a longing to come here together.
Happy to be here: The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as her husband gives a speech, left, and pauses for a moment to smell one of her many bouquets, right
Popular princess: Kate bobs down to accept flowers from two little girls, left, and beams ecstatically as she shakes hands with fans
Official welcome: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Rideau Hall, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife look on as Kate accepts more flowers
Poise: The Duchess of Cambridge beams as she and her husband arrive at Rideau Hall, and right, she is at ease chatting to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
'We are so very excited about having this opportunity to experience both - and learn much more about this amazing country.
THE U.S. AND CANADA ROYAL TOUR ITINERARY
June 30-July 2: The National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec)
The Duke and Duchess will take part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on July 1
July 2: Montreal
The pair will be in town for the final Saturday of the Montreal Jazz Festival
July 3: Quebec City
William and Catherine will spend the day in Quebec City, before moving on to Charlottetown
July 3-4: Prince Edward Island
The Duchess is apparently a fan of Anne of Green Gables, a book set in Prince Edward Island and written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, which might explain this stop off
July 4-6: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
July 6-8: Calgary, Alberta
William and Catherine will be in town for one of Calgary's biggest annual events, The Calgary Stampede on July 8, but it is unlikely that they will attend the rodeo
July 8: Los Angeles, United States
During their three-day visit to California, the royal couple will stay at the British consul-general's residence in the historic Hancock Park district of Los Angeles
On Friday night the couple will be the guests of honor at a Consular-General Reception held by the United Kingdom Trade and Investment.
July 9: Los Angeles, United States
In the afternoon, Prince William is expected to play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in a charity match - the Foundation Polo Cup - to benefit the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry with the Duchess presenting the winners' trophy.
That evening, Catherine and William will attend a reception and dinner at the 1926 Belasco Theatre in downtown LA put on by the BAFTAs
July 10: Los Angeles, United States
On Sunday, the couple will visit the Inner-City Arts School, an organisation helping children from a deprived neighbourhood in downtown L.A.
They will then go to Culver City's Sony Studios, where they'll visit the Service Nation: Mission Serve job fair.
Catherine and William will fly back to the UK from LAX
Thank you so much. We are truly looking forward to this adventure.'
His use of French prompted loud cheers and led the prince to joke: 'It will get better as we go on'.
After the event, the couple enjoyed a brief period of ‘downtime’ at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s 175-room official residence which will be there home for the next three days, before joining a BBQ to meet more young Canadians.
In Canada, the couple will undertake a mixture of traditional engagements – such as tree plantings and wreath layings – with fun jobs more appropriate to their age such as dragon boating.
They will also attend the world’s richest rodeo, the legendary Calgary Stampede, be presented with 10 gallon cowboy hats and wear ‘western dress’.
Mailonline can reveal that the Queen has given the new Duchess the pick of her fabulous collection of jewels for the 11-day trip.
The monarch, who is said to be extremely fond of her grandson’s new bride, wants Kate to shine on her first major test as a member of the Royal Family.
A few weeks ago she invited the 29-year-old Duchess into Buckingham Palace to choose from her priceless collection of tiaras, necklaces and bracelets
Some, such as the legendary Delhi Durbar diamond and emerald necklace, belong to the Queen personally, while others are held by the monarch on behalf of the nation.
Said a source: ‘Although, given the largely informal theme of the tour, particularly in Canada, there is no need for tiaras or the like, the Queen owns one of the most valuable collections of jewellery.
‘The Duchess was touched by her offer. She has picked out one or two exquisite pieces she wishes to borrow. Her choices were made with a particular eye on the Los Angeles leg of the trip, where she knows she needs to dazzle.’
While Kate is said to be ‘excited beyond belief’ at the prospect of the hugely anticipated tour, she is also keen not to overshadow her new husband, the Mail understands.
It is one of the reasons she has chosen not to make any public speeches during the trip, while the Duke will make several.
In this she appears to have learnt a lesson from the experience of Princess Diana, who repeatedly stole the limelight from her then husband, Prince Charles, and in doing so unwittingly drove a wedge between them.
The prince would become particularly frustrated when, during official walkabouts, the crowds would groan and call for Diana when he approached them.
Walkabouts will be a particular feature of the Canadian leg of William and Kate’s trip as they attempt to meet as many of their future subjects as possible.
Their arrival in the Commonwealth country, where the Queen is still sovereign, is eagerly anticipated, with frenzied minute by minute television coverage.
Each public appearance is expected to draw thousands of well-wishers on to the streets and large crowds gathered from early yesterday keen to meet the glamorous young newly-weds.
Some anti-royal protests are, however, expected later in the week in the French-speaking provinces, with small republican groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.
‘This visit is really a battle for the hearts and minds of Canadian as to what to do down the road about the head of state in Canada,’ said University of Ottawa History Professor Michael Behiels.
Although she has made clear that she doesn’t want to be seen as a ‘clothes horse’, there is huge global interest in the Duchess’s choice of outfits.
Kate has, however, refused to have any strategy regarding her tour wardrobe.
Despite being approached by a slew of designers and stylists, she has insisted on picking out her own outfits from department stores such as Selfridges and boutiques including what friends describe as her ‘fashion secret’, Moda Rosa, in rural Hampshire.
Kate is such a frequent visitor to the store in the market town of Alresford that she has become firm friends with its owner, Rosie Wild, who even attended her wedding.
She has also splashed out more than £1,000 on five hats from upmarket St James’s milliner Lock and Co.
Unusually for such a high profile tour, the Duchess has also insisted on digging out several items from her existing wardrobe to drive home the point.
‘Like any young woman she likes to look nice but she doesn’t want it to overshadow what she and her husband are actually doing,’ said an aide.
The Duchess, who has never visited Canada or the US before, is not bringing a dresser with her but a junior secretary from the household is on hand to help with, among other things, her wardrobe, as she may need to change several times a day.
She is also paying for her own hairdresser, James Pryce, to travel with her but, once again, will be doing her own make-up.
Apart from that, the royal couple’s entourage will be minimal – their private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton; Foreign Office tour co-ordinator, Chris Kealey; two press secretaries, and Sir David Manning, a former British Ambassador who acts as William’s unpaid advisor.
Costs are also being kept low as the couple have taken up the Canadian government’s offer of an airforce jet to take them to Canada and onto LA, with scheduled BA flights on the way home.
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