In the navy: Prince William and coordinated Kate board plane to Canada as ten-day royal tour begins

By Maysa Rawi


Jet set: Kate Middleton does understated chic as she prepares to board a plane to Canada at Heathrow airport today

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proved they were in perfect sync as they boarded a plane to Canada today.

Wearing matching navy blue, the couple were pictured on the runway heading to the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft at London's Heathrow Airport.

They are expected to land in Ottawa at 2pm local time.

Kate was the picture of understated elegance on the runway in a blue shift dress and matching blazer with gold buttons.

She accessoried with blue court shoes and a £895 Mulberry handbag.
William wore a suit of the same colour and a red tie.

With her hair freshly blow-dried, Kate's glossy mane will no doubt continue to look flawless throughout the trip as she is rumoured to be travelling with her hairdresser James Pryce.

Her wardrobe has been kept under wraps but potential outfits have been an endless source of speculation over the last few weeks.

Kate is said to have hired a personal shopper at London department store Selfridges.

But whether she will stick to her favourite High Street stores or mix and match with designer labels remains to be seen.

Either way, the couple are on a tight schedule.

William and Kate's arrival in the Commonwealth country is eagerly anticipated and their appearance later in the capital is expected to draw thousands on to the streets.

They will be celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa, opening the Calgary Stampede and canoeing in the Northwest Territories before taking off to Los Angeles.

Canada's prime minister has even unveiled a personal flag for use during William's visit.

It is the first flag to be created by Canada for a member of the royal family since 1962, when the queen adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the flag was approved by the queen and William.

The Canadian secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and the chief organizer of the trip Kevin MacLeod said: 'I think given the youth and the dynamism of this couple they will simply continue to reaffirm the important role the crown plays in this country.

The young prince also plans to demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by taking part in a water landing demonstration, and the couple is scheduled to put on aprons and take part in a cooking workshop in Quebec City.

Perfect match: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will land in Ottawa later today to start their ten-day tour in Canada and U.S

Fresh-faced: Kate looked groomed to perfection, with freshly blow-dried hair while William looked elegant in a blue suit and red tie


Some anti-royal protests are expected in the French-speaking province of Quebec, with small groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

The prince and Kate jet 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.

The southern California trip includes a $4,000 three-course meal and a charity polo match up close with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are formally known.

On duty: William talks to James Wright, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Private transport: The couple are travelling on the Royal Canadian Air Force plane


So far, about 1,000 VIP tickets have been sold to the polo match along with about 400 general admission passes, raising nearly $4.4 million for the July 9 event. William plans to play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the winning team.

William will be celebrating Canada's birthday on Friday, the same day his mother Diana would have turned 50.

He is due to say a few words at a number of stops. Kate is not scheduled to speak.

The couple will travel from the sub-Arctic to oil-rich Calgary, Alberta, from busy Montreal to bucolic Prince Edward Island of "Anne of Green Gables" fame.

They'll sit around a campfire with young people, dress casual for the Calgary rodeo, join a cookout in Quebec City and hand out flags to newly-minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony.


source:dailymail

Kate and William to take entourage of just SEVEN on tour to Canada and the U.S

By Daily Mail Reporter


-The Duke and Duchess' entourage will include Kate's hairdresser, James Pryce, but no 'dresser'
-William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly
-The couple will be in Canada from June 30 to July 8 and will then spend two days in Los Angeles

Scroll down for the Royal Tour itinerary...

On duty: The Duke and Duchess will take just seven members of the royal household with them when they visit Canada and the US at the end of the month


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have an entourage of just seven people for their tour of Canada and the US, St James's Palace said today.

Seven may seem like quite a lot of support for two people. But the entourage includes two press secretaries and a couple of private secretaries to ensure that royal protocol is followed.


Catherine - who is fast becoming a fashion icon - has broken with tradition by asking not asked to be accompanied by a dresser.

But she will be taking her hairdresser, James Pryce, to help style her look for the many engagements on her itinerary.

William and Catherine will fly out to North America with the small group of Royal Household staff to help them during the 11-day trip, which begins at the end of the month.

Royal officials said they have tried to keep the entourage as small as possible while still providing enough support for the Duchess, who will be making her first official overseas trip as a member of the monarchy.


Sunshine state: The Royal couple's Canadian tour will be followed by a three day trip to California this July


Outlining the reason for the US trip, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, their private secretary said: 'The visit will support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple's interests.

'The Unites States' West Coast is a tremendously important market for British business.

'The Duke and Duchess will support UK technology investment as well as the creative industries through Bafta.

'They will highlight the bond between the US and UK's armed forces, particularly focusing now on the next step of re-integration of service men and women into civilian life once they have finished active service.'

The highlight of the US leg of the visit, details of which were released today, will be a glitzy Bafta black-tie reception where the Duke and Duchess will promote British creative talent from the worlds of film, television and video games.

From the royal couple's household will be Mr Lowther-Pinkerton, whose 10-year-old son, William, was one of the pageboys at the April wedding, Chris Keeley, assistant private secretary, Miguel Head, press secretary, and the Prince of Wales's press secretary, Patrick Harrison.


Sir David Manning, who is an adviser and aide to William and Kate, will be part of the team and a secretary will take up the final place.

But the Duchess will not have a lady-in-waiting, an official female companion, so the private secretaries are likely to take on some of the duties of this role such as collecting gifts or flowers.

Catherine will also be assisted by staff from the official buildings where she is staying.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton said: 'The entourage is designed, whoever it is, according to requirements of the tour and we've just followed that principle really.

'In that, actually having done a pretty careful analysis, we've kept it as tight as we possibly can.

'But we've been minded of the fact (this is) the Duchess's first tour and she needs to be properly supported so she doesn't have to worry about stuff other than core matters.'

During the visit to North America, William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton stressed the trip would be a double act, with the Duke and Duchess taking part in engagements together.

He said the Duchess had made 'incredible leaps and bounds' but 'there is a time and a place to introduce yourself to the world of speaking'.

Canadian officials are already gearing up for the visit.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: 'Canadians hold the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in very high esteem and look forward to welcoming them as they embark on their first official Royal Tour as newlyweds.'

He told The Calgary Herald: 'The couple’s decision to visit Canada first is a testament to our country’s close relationship with the Crown and the Royal Family, and an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our traditions, history, and institutions.'





source:dailymail

Harry the hunk: Young Prince shows off newly toned torso as he takes William on at polo

By Daily Mail Reporter



Looking lean: Prince Harry turns heads at Ascot for a charity polo match on Sunday


Prince Harry showed off his rippling torso as he braved torrential rain yesterday to take on the Duke of Cambridge in a charity polo tournament.

While William has been the centre of attention following his wedding in April, the newly single Harry has clearly been busy working out - turning heads at the Sentebale Polo Cup when he removed his short-sleeved top to reveal a tighter one underneath.

Harry, 26, has always been popular with the ladies but his rumoured split with on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davies has once again placed him top of the eligible Singles list.

Check me out: The Prince gets ready to compete against brother William, left, who he lives with in London

Brotherly love: Harry sensibly put his top back on ahead of the charity game


The royal brothers were deluged by the downpours and buffeted by strong winds as they led their opposing teams in the Sentebale Polo Cup.

The event was due to be held in the sultry setting of Dubai but unrest across the Middle East prompted Harry earlier this year to postpone the annual event - staged to raise funds for his charity Sentebale.

It was relocated to the beautiful setting of Coworth Park near Ascot in Berkshire.

The event raises funds and awareness for the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006 to help disadvantaged youngsters in the Southern African country of Lesotho.

Sibling rivalry: The princes battle it out during the match which raised funds and awareness for the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006 to help disadvantaged youngsters in the Southern African country of Lesotho

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, shows his bald patch in the rain whilst mud-spattered Harry looks on


Skillful: Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, remained focused throughout the game. The three teams played in a round-robin tournament

The prince joined forces with Prince Seeiso from Lesotho to establish Sentebale which has launched a new five-year plan to extend its efforts helping Aids orphans and other vulnerable African youngsters.

Talking about the polo tournament held for the second year Seeiso said: 'The Cup is being staged again to raise the profile of the charity and to increase our network of friends.

'Because what is increasingly important about Sentebale's work is to maintain the levels of funds and finance so whatever programmes we have in place can be properly funded.

'Not just for the next year but to do a proper programme of events for the next two, three years.'

When the event was postponed earlier this year, a St James's Palace spokesman said the third-in-line to the throne felt it was insensitive to stage the Cup in Dubai when there were 'matters of greater priority to focus on in the region'.

During the polo tournament Harry played for Sentebale against William, 28, who turned out for a Tusk Trust team, a conservation charity of which he is royal patron.

A third group of players sponsored by Bin Drai Enterprises - a Dubai-based family office - were the final opponents.

The three teams played in a round-robin tournament with Harry's group of players taking on Tusk Trust in the final match of the day.

When the two brothers met on the polo field there was friendly rivalry with Harry joking with his older sibling when the action on the pitch brought them together.

The invited guests barely left a marquee to watch the sporting spectacle as there was little let up in the wintry conditions.
Tusk Trust won the tournament and William - whose bald patch was exposed by the torrential rain - accepted the trophy on behalf of his team as his brother looked on.

After the polo Harry hosted a fundraising dinner where a charity auction was held to raise funds for his organisation while William left to join his wife Kate at a private royal family function.

After the polo Harry hosted a fundraising dinner where a charity auction was held to raise funds for his organisation while William left to join his wife Kate at a private royal family function

During the polo tournament Harry, 26, played for Sentebale against William, 28, who turned out for a Tusk Trust team, a conservation charity of which he is royal patron


The guests dined on a starter of potted salmon, a main course of cottage pie and a summer pudding for dessert washed down with wine.

Harry summed up the aims of his charity in a speech to guests telling them how his organisation would help a young Lesotho 'herd boy' who, determined to better himself, made great sacrifices in an attempt to become a doctor.

The Prince took William to Lesotho last year to see the work of his organisation and the royals travelled to a remote area of the mountainous country to meet herd boys who work in harsh conditions looking after cattle in attempt to provide money for their families.

Harry told the guests: 'Talk of orphans and vulnerable children seems a million miles away from where we are tonight, in the glorious setting of Coworth Park.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge laughs with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho as the game comes to an end


'But, even now, just talking about this, I have the clearest picture in my mind of a young herd boy called Tholo.

'William and I met him one night last summer when we were in Lesotho together. He was seven-years-old. He had walked on his own through the cold and darkness for five miles.'

Harry told the guests that the boy made the long trek simply to learn to read and write because he wanted to become a doctor and help his people.


source:dailymail