Prince William, Princess Kate and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, have arrived in Victoria, the capital of Canada, last weekend in their first tour as a family. The eight-day visit is packed of royal duties and also serves as the children's formal introduction to British Columbia, which also has Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch.
The three-year-old George stepped down the Royal Canadian Air Force jet while clasping his parents' hands, The Guardian reported. His 1-year-old younger sister stayed in her mother's arms. The royal family was greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, former TV presenter Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
Prince William told thousands of attendees outside the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia that he and his wife are "delighted" to return to Canada. The royal couple first visited the country in 2011, just three months after their marriage and they haven't forgotten the "warm welcome" that Canada gave them at the time.
"That is why we are so pleased that George and Charlotte can be with us in Canada this time round, beginning their own lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country," Prince William continued, as quoted by The Guardian. Trudeau, meanwhile, thanked the royals for introducing the country to George and Charlotte.
The family-of-four is rarely seen in public appearances, in spite of the fact that George already visited Australia and New Zealand with his parents in 2014 when he was just nine months old. The Canada trip is Charlotte's first official royal visit.
The royal family will stay at the Government House in Victoria during the week-long tour. Both George and Charlotte were fast asleep when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended meetings with the Trudeaus and the Governor General David Johnston later that day, Hello! Magazine reported.
Kate told Johnston and his wife Sharon that her children ate a hearty meal and had "a very good tea" after their arrival. She also shared that the two kids were "super excited" to fly in an airplane.
Kate also offered a parenting advice to well-wishers who welcomed the royal couple. She told one mother with a six-month-old daughter that parenting will "get easier" and "better" from that stage onwards, the publication added.
Prince William and Princess Kate have more than 30 engagements while in Canada, People reported. The royal parents are hoping to bring George and Charlotte along to at least one outing. This could be at a children's party for military families scheduled on Thursday. But even though their parents are out in their duties, the young royal children will be looked after by their nanny, Maria Turrion Borrallo.
