Royal couple: Will and Kate arrive in Montreal royal, University, scheduled, already, capital

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Royal couple: Will and Kate arrive in Montreal


OTTAWA — Prince William and Kate arrived in Quebec on Saturday to what could be a slightly cooler reception than the royal couple experienced during their two-day love-in around the nation’s capital.

A small group of protesters was already staking out Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal, where the royals were scheduled to visit later in the day.

Anti-monarchy groups have threatened to disrupt the royals’ trip, and the roughly 20 demonstrators in Montreal held signs saying “Parasites Go Home.”

But even they seemed to have somewhat of a soft spot for the young couple.

“We don’t have any beef with William and Kate, we just want the monarchy to stop legislating our country,” said member Sophie Turcot.

For their part, on the heels of a jubilant Canada Day party that brought 300,000 people to Parliament Hill, the royals were having a much quieter, if still very busy Day 3 of their Canadian tour, the final time.

They arrived late to the Montreal airport after attending a tree-planting ceremony at Rideau Hall and then a reception with veterans and war brides at the Canadian War Museum.

“Her Royal Highness is very spontaneous and friendly. We’ve never met before but just started a conversation,” Linda Church said after speaking with Kate for several minutes and sharing an easy laugh at the war museum.

Church, a retired master corporal, lives in Ottawa and served in a clerical role in the Middle East in 1976-77.

“Diana would be so proud of him,” she added of the prince. “She raised him well.”

The royals’ day was to be capped off by a late-night voyage from Montreal down the St. Lawrence to Quebec City onboard a military frigate.

At Rideau Hall in Ottawa, William wore a dark suit as he took part in a tree-planting ceremony a stone’s throw from where his mother had done the same thing years ago on her first trip to Canada.

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Britain's Prince William watches as his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, shovels dirt during a tree planting ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa July 2, 2011. Also pictured are Canada's Governor General David Johnston (R) and his wife Sharon (2nd R).

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He heaved a few shovelfuls of dirt onto the planted area with a special silver spade, then handed the tool to a smiling Kate, who scooped two more loads of soil onto the tree to mark their visit, despite wearing a grey Kensington dress by designer Catherine Walker — known as one of Diana’s favourite designers — and heels. Those in attendance applauded her effort.

The newlyweds then proceeded to the tree planted by William’s mother and his father, Prince Charles, and stood there for several quiet moments.

Diana would have marked her 50th birthday the day before, on Canada Day.

Planting ceremonial trees has been a tradition in Canada since it began during royal or state visits with then-governor general Earl Grey in the early 1900s. The couple’s hemlock is the 17th royal tree to be planted at Rideau Hall.

William and Kate chatted and shook hands with a few longtime married couples in attendance and greeted several children with flowers, as well as one little girl who appeared to curtsy.

Then the royal couple travelled to the Canadian War Museum for a reception with veterans and war brides.

William, who serves with the Royal Air Force, chatted amiably with veterans, drawing laughs at times, before he and Kate unveiled a new mural at the museum — a massive painting called The Canadians Opposite Lens by celebrated artist Augustus John, depicting figures near Vimy Ridge.

After an initial wave of screams when the couple emerged from a dark sedan in the midst of a high-security motorcade, there were repeated cries of “Kate! Kate!”

Roger Beauregard, a retired lieutenant-colonel who served in the Korean War, said he was “too old to be nervous” at meeting a future king.

“It was interesting. Nothing very serious, just a bit of chit-chat,” he said of their conversation, adding that William asked him about his medals and about serving in Korea.

In Montreal, Will and Kate will visit a neonatal and cancer ward at the hospital and a culinary class at the Institut de tourisme et d’hotelier du Quebec.

Later in the evening, the newlyweds will enjoy a private dinner cooked by the culinary students, before boarding HMCS Montreal to sail down the St. Lawrence overnight to Quebec City.