Ottawa:
Prince William and Kate began their first official trip abroad on Thursday laying a wreath at Canada's National War Memorial as excited onlookers screamed with delight and showered the young royals with flowers and gifts.
On the first day of their Canadian tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received an official welcome by the Governor General, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Canada's head of state.
The newly married couple arrived outside the Government House, Rideau Hall on Thursday afternoon in Ottawa, where a 21-gun salute was fired before the ceremonial guard played Canada's national anthem.
William reviewed members of the Canadian military and then gave his first remarks.
He thanked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor General David Johnston for their warm welcome in French, inciting screams and cheering from the crowd.
"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," he said.
He broke into French again then and joked, "it will improve as we go along."
Later, the royals were scheduled to attend a barbecue for local young people.
The newlyweds will stay in Canada for nine days, during which time they will take part in Canada Day celebrations, open the world-renowned Calgary Stampede and hand out flags to newly minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony among other things before jetting off to Los Angeles.
Earlier on Thursday they participated in a wreath laying ceremony and book signing at the National War Memorial.
The young prince and his wife have star power to burn and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore believes this will be the most-watched royal tour in Canada's history.
The couple head to Los Angeles on July 8 and will host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.
Canadian officials have estimated the royal visit will cost the Canadian government about 1.55 (m) million US dollars, not including security.
On the first day of their Canadian tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received an official welcome by the Governor General, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Canada's head of state.
The newly married couple arrived outside the Government House, Rideau Hall on Thursday afternoon in Ottawa, where a 21-gun salute was fired before the ceremonial guard played Canada's national anthem.
William reviewed members of the Canadian military and then gave his first remarks.
He thanked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Governor General David Johnston for their warm welcome in French, inciting screams and cheering from the crowd.
"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," he said.
He broke into French again then and joked, "it will improve as we go along."
Later, the royals were scheduled to attend a barbecue for local young people.
The newlyweds will stay in Canada for nine days, during which time they will take part in Canada Day celebrations, open the world-renowned Calgary Stampede and hand out flags to newly minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony among other things before jetting off to Los Angeles.
Earlier on Thursday they participated in a wreath laying ceremony and book signing at the National War Memorial.
The young prince and his wife have star power to burn and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore believes this will be the most-watched royal tour in Canada's history.
The couple head to Los Angeles on July 8 and will host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.
Canadian officials have estimated the royal visit will cost the Canadian government about 1.55 (m) million US dollars, not including security.
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