History, fun and Hollywood for royal newlyweds

By Anna Tomforde Jun 29, 2011, 12:46 GMT

London - Two months after their fairytale wedding in London, Britain's Prince William and his new wife, Catherine, return to the public stage with their first official royal tour - to Canada and the US.

After having succeeded in keeping their honeymoon in the Seychelles top secret - Kate and Will - as they are still known - will face the first big test of their capability to be full-time royals when they arrive in Canada on Thursday.

Judging by their performance so far, the 9-day tour of Canada, followed by a visit to California from July 8 to 10, will prove to be a first-class photo opportunity - and could turn out to be a public relations success.

William and his wife, the new Duchess of Cambridge, are seen by royal strategists in London as a charismatic couple able to project a new, modern image of the British monarchy.

'The royal couple are delighted that Canada will be their first tour together, and the Canadians have put together an extremely welcoming and well-balanced programme of meaningful engagements, mixed with fun and lots of opportunities to get to know Canada and the Canadians better,' said William's press spokesman, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

In line with tradition, their first official foreign trip is to a key Commonwealth nation. Canada, recent opinion polls have shown, remains divided on the issue of the monarchy - while having been fascinated by the royal wedding.

With the spectacular London event on April 29 still fresh in many minds, organizers in Canada are expecting large crowds, palace sources said.

The couple, both 29, will join in the celebrations of Canada Day in Ottawa on July 1, where William is due to give a short speech following the main address by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

They will pay their respect to the war dead at Canada's National War Memorial, visit a war museum and meet Canadian servicemen and their families.

Before watching the day's final celebratory fireworks, the royal guestes are scheduled to drop in on a show of rock and pop bands entertaining crowds in the city.

Their trip across Canada will take them to Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Summerside, Yellowknife and Calgary, where they will watch the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

In California, the couple will stay with the British consul-general in the Hancock Park district of Los Angeles, visit business and technology centres and rub shoulders with US and British Hollywood celebrities at a reception, the palace said.

'The visit will support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple's interests,' said Lowther-Pinkerton.

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