The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will begin their first official Royal Tour of Canada as newlyweds at the end of June, taking part in the country's most popular summer tourist attractions.
The Royal couple will land in the National Capital Region on June 30, for the start of a nine-day trip that will bring them to Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
The trip, which is being compared to the 1983 tour of Prince Charles and Diana, will begin on Parliament Hill where William and Kate will take part in the Canada Day noon show. They will then travel to Montreal, followed by a visit to Quebec City on July 3, after which William and Kate will head east to Prince Edward Island.
William and Kate will be in Charlottetown on July 3 where they will visit the community of Summerside, P.E.I. before flying on to Yellowknife.
"This is part of what nation building is all about -- hosting these kind of events," said Heritage Minister James Moore in a news conference in Calgary on Monday. "Hosting the Duke and Duchess is an honour for Canada and we look forward to having them visit all of these different regions."
The visit to P.E.I. may be of special significance to the duchess, who is reportedly a big fan of the book "Anne of Green Gables," which is set on the island and written by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
While P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel he couldn't personally confirm Kate's interest in the famous Montgomery book, he said the royal couple are likely to be exposed to Anne-related attractions during their short stay on the island.
"If you're planning a trip to Prince Edward Island, most likely there's going to be some sort of an Anne component," Ghiz told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel from Charlottetown.
After a couple of days in Yellowknife, the royal couple will spend July 6 to July 8 in Calgary where they will be feted by Stampede officials.
Often referred to as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," the Calgary Stampede, an annual 10-day event, draws tourists and cowboys from around the world.
Local Calgary bar owner Paul Vickers said he is excited about the visit. He told The Canadian Press he is eager to give the Duke and Duchess the royal treatment which would include free two-step dance lessons, an opportunity to ride a mechanical bull and seats in the VIP section.
Four years ago, William's brother, Prince Harry, made headlines after a scandalous night at Vicker's bar while on leave from military training at CFB Suffield in southern Alberta.
According to British tabloids, Harry shared several drinks with the pub's bartender and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
So far, more than 85 journalists from the United Kingdom have been assigned to cover the tour. And while the couple's full itinerary has not been released, Heritage Minister James Moore says hosting the event will be modest in terms of cost.
"Many of the events that they are going to be taking part in are events that are already taking place ... so they will be visiting and taking in events that were already scheduled rather than doing events on the road, which sometimes can have some big costs."
Moore estimates the tour will cost less than the $2 million Queen Elizabeth summer 2010 visit.
In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canadians hold the couple "in very high esteem" and look forward to welcoming them on their first official Royal Tour.
The prime minister predicted that William and Kate will "develop their own enduring bonds of affection for Canada and Canadians," as Queen Elizabeth has over many decades and many visits.
The nine-day visit will mark William's third trip to Canada. He last visited the country in 1998.
Kate has not previously travelled to Canada.
After their visit to Canada the royal couple will fly to the United States, where they will be staying in Los Angeles and its surrounding area from July 8 to 10.
William and Kate were married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29.
They became known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after they got married, titles that were bestowed upon them by the Queen.
