Today the Duke and Duchess left Victoria for their only night away from their children, heading first for Kelowna on the shores of Okanagan Lake and then to the mountains of Whitehorse in Yukon, home of the midnight sun and the Northern Lights.
Their accommodation for the night was to be the very modest four-star Coast High Country Inn, where they’ve been given the main suite complete with an in-room two person jacuzzi from which a picture window offers a breath-taking view of the snow-dusted mountains, I’m told. The whole place was in lock down today in preparation for the royal visit.
But first, they flew to Kelowna in British Columbia where the Duchess wowed designer frock fashionistas once more with an elegant bottle green dress by Dolce & Gabbana teamed with LK Bennett nude heels and Rayban sunglasses – which were almost identical to those worn by William.
Thirty years ago Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited the city and the locals were delighted to be welcoming their son and his wife today giving the couple a rapturous welcome. They visited the University of British Columbia Okanagan and met students including the nationally-ranked women’s volleyball team who staged an exhibition game for the couple.
Kate looking elegant in a Dolce & Gabbana dress teamed with LK Bennett nude heels in at a volleyball game. PHOTO: Getty
As they entered the gym the royal visitors were greeted by cheers and screams. “Please welcome, all the way from the UK, standing at 6ft 3in and 5ft 9in – or 5ft 11in including high heels, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!” said a cheeky announcer over the loud speakers.
After watching some of the action, the couple met players, including Paralympic sitting volleyball player Jennifer Oakes, 18, who lost a leg in a boating accident in Alberta last year and took part in the Rio 2016 Games. They were also introduced to the team’s mascot Scorch, who would not reveal his true identity, but said of the couple: “I didn’t expect them to talk to me, they were very nice. They said Prince George would love to meet me.” Before leaving, William and Kate were handed matching volleyball jerseys marked Cambridge and a pair of UBC teddy bears for George and Charlotte.
Kate and William watching the volleyball. PHOTO: Getty
Next the couple toured a food and wine festival in the idyllic setting of a hilltop winery in the Okanagan valley. They tasted the work of some of Canada’s most celebrated chefs including Mr Bell’s Cured North Coast British Columbian Wild Sockeye Salmon Tataki and Chef Vikram Vij’s Maharaja Style Coconut Curried British Columbian Vegetable Curry With Basmati Rice. Asked if she liked cooking, Kate replied “Yes, especially curries.” William chipped in: “This is amazing. It’s the right level of spice for me. I’m very glad you did not surprise us with a vindaloo. I can’t manage that – it’s too much for me.”
William also tried a Laird of Fintry single malt whisky, which he pronounced “delicious”. “You can tell the Scottish element – there’s a peatiness to it,” the Prince noted. Kate turned down the whisky, but tried their cassis – a blackcurrant liqueur – instead, which she said was “like sloe gin”.
Earlier the couple had tried their hand cutting pinot noir grapes from the vines. Okanagan Valley is Canada’s second largest wine region, and accounts for 90% of all wine produced in British Columbia.
En route to the Yukon and a temperature of zero degrees Celsius, Kate did a quick change into her second green outfit of the day, this time a military style coat by UK high street brand Hobbs, cinched at the waist with a black leather belt and teamed with a maple leaf tartan scarf.
Kate and WIlliam arrive in the Yukon. PHOTO: Getty
Temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius in the Yukon. PHOTO: Getty
She kept the coat on for an indoor cultural celebration at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre featuring local musicians and performers, including a First Nations storyteller. The performance room was packed to the rafters with the great and the good of Yukon and MC for the night was popular local comedian Jenny Hamilton. The acts were incredibly impressive showing the rich artistic talent in this special part of the world, but it was the finale from nine-year-old Evan James Lafreniere-Clark which brought the house down.
Kate and William were asked to come up on stage and young Evan delivered a speech about the gift he was clutching for the royals. It was a children’s book called “I Was Born Under a Spruce Tree” written, Evan told the couple and the audience, by his great grandfather Pat and his great uncle JJ, who he noted “made a great team”.
It was JJ’s dying wish that the book which charts the history of Evan’s historic Whitehorse family and talks about the importance of the Yukon way of life, be given to the royal family. Prince William was noticeably moved accepting the gift and though he wasn’t supposed to be speaking felt bound to thank Evan and Whitehorse for their amazing display. “I’m not meant to say anything tonight but after that felt I had to,” said the Prince. “Quite frankly that was the most incredible performance Catherine and I have ever seen. I did not expect to come up to Yukon and see a performance like that.”
The room erupted and after the royal couple departed to meet some of the performers outside around a fire, queues formed asking for young Evan’s autograph.
