William, Kate to mark Canada Day star, expected, morning, people, leaves

tiffiant

William, Kate to mark Canada Day by welcoming new citizens; 10,000 spectators expected


OTTAWA — Parliament Hill was awash in crimson maple leaves and Union Jacks on Friday morning as at least 10,000 people packed the nation's biggest front lawn for what is expected to be the largest Canada Day celebration yet, fuelled by the star power of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.


Wearing a white dress and red maple leaf fascinator hat, Kate accompanied William into the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., across the river from Ottawa, to attend a citizenship ceremony. Spectators screeched as the pair walked by.


Meanwhile, a crowd dressed almost exclusively in red and white — with the bright blue stripe of more than a few United Kingdom flags in the mix — pressed against barriers surrounding the monumental stage in front of Parliament's Centre Block.


As early speeches paid tribute to Parks Canada's 100th anniversary, fans howled in excitement each time William and Kate were mentioned or a television camera swept toward the crowd.


Three young women from Ottawa were among those who had camped out on the Hill overnight.


"We felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we wanted to actually see them, and tell our grandchildren that we actually saw them one day," said Mandie Woods, 20, who was there with her friends Samantha Woods, 19, and 22-year-old Katie Bevilacqua.


Not allowed to sleep or bring tents, they had laid down a plastic sheet and brought blankets. Bread and jam was the lunch they'd packed.


"We think it's different than other celebrities because it's part of history," Mandie said. "These people will have an impact on Canada's history."


With huge curving digital screens and motorized metallic structures, the stage erected for this year's Canada Day celebrations is considerably more elaborate than in years past, resembling an industrial Cirque du Soleil set.


At the citizenship ceremony the royals were attending, 25 new Canadians were take their oath.


William was to present each of them with a folded Canadian flag and Kate will give them a small hand flag, but the Sons of Scotland band also has a gift for the couple — a new composition called the St. Andrews Courtship, a nod to the Scottish university where the world's most famous newlyweds met as undergraduates eight years ago.

tiffiant

Alison Payne, 28, and her sister Catherine are making a habit out of seeing the royals.


Alison was in London for the wedding in April, and was outside the museum on Friday morning.


She and Catherine, showed up wearing a fascinator and pill box in appreciation of the Duchess of Cambridge's fashion sense.


"I think Will and Kate are very glamorous and attractive," said Catherine, who planned to see the royals again when they were in Calgary.


There was also a small band of people protesting the monarchy and the oath new citizens of Canada make to the Queen.


They had signs reading "Democracy not Monarchy" but they were booed by the crowd.


"We want to be able to swear an oath of allegiance to Canada, not to an offshore monarch," said group leader Charles Roach.


Eventually, though, both the protesters and the royal lovers joined together to sing O Canada.


Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his wife, Laureen, and their children, Ben and Rachel, are scheduled to arrive on the Hill around noon. A few minutes later, William and Catherine will arrive in a landau with an RCMP escort, accompanied by the Governor General and his wife.


There will be a 21-gun salute, the Governor General will inspect the Guard of Honour, and there will be l be a CF-18 flypast over Parliament Hill.

tiffiant

The hour-long Canada Day show they'll watch will include performances by Sam Roberts, Great Big Sea and Maria Aragon, the Winnipeg 10-year-old who performed a duet with Lady Gaga in Toronto earlier this year.


The prince is then scheduled to give a brief speech and he and Kate will conduct a walkabout on Parliament once the afternoon performance ends.


On a more sombre note, Friday would have been the 50th birthday of William's mother, the late Princess Diana.


William and Kate began the day by sending best wishes to Canadian soldiers serving at home and abroad, lauding their "extraordinary commitment and contribution to the cause of peace."


In a letter posted by the Governor General, the visiting royals spoke of the soldiers sacrifice with admiration.


"Because Canadian Forces are always to the fore, the sacrifices have been great," the letter reads.


"For this, the Canadian Forces are respected around the world, They have made a difference to the lives of many thousands who most need assistance through compassion and humanity. We are honoured to thank you and congratulate you for a job well done."


William himself serves with Britain's Royal Air Force.


This is the third royal tour in Canada in the past two years, following Queen Elizabeth's visit last summer and Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles' tour in November 2009.

Britain's Prince William (C) and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge along with Canada's Governor General David Johnston, (R) take part in a youth reception at Rideau Hall in Ottawa June 30, 2011. Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are on a royal tour of Canada from June 30 to July 8.

Britain's Prince William poses for a well-wisher at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, June 30, 2011. The Royal couple arrived in Canada on Thursday for their first official visit overseas as a married couple.