Kate Middleton, Prince William And Their Kids In Canada: Behind The Adoring Welcome

The “charm offensive,” by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two young children has been received with open arms in Canada as adoring crowds follow each of their moves—cheering while throwing flowers, toys, teddy bears and even books at their feet.

With the eyes of the world following every detail of her wardrobe the Duchess of Cambridge has once again shown her impecable sense of style with her usual mixture of affordable outfits and bespoke pieces that make her look regal and accessible to her followers.

For a reception attended by leaders of British Columbia's legislature, government and judiciary.at the Government House, where  the family is staying in Victoria, she looked radiant in a scarlet cocktail dress, the most glamorous  so far by the London label Preen. With it and for the second time she wore the Queen's diamond maple leaf brooch, which is the symbol of Canada. 

On Sunday, as they traveled by seaplane from Victoria to Vancouver, thousands of Canadians standing 10 rows deep for hours in the damp morning packed the plaza in the heart of the city as William and Kate slowly walked along, shaking hands, stopping to exchange pleasantries with well-wishers and to receive gifts from kids while the crowds yelled their names.

That day  Kate looked refreshed and glamorous, yet understated in a knee-revealing, playfully patterned and ruffled dress in the colors of the Canadian flag designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, one of her favorite designers, with matching red Hobbs shoes and handbag.

The royal couple had a full day that included first a visit to a charity that supports vulnerable mothers. Then, accompanied by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, they went to the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia to hear about the project helping refugees. They ate an informal lunch before moving on to greet young Canadian leaders featuring Olympians and Paralympians.

A visit to the Canadian Coast Guard in Kitsilano was their final activity before heading back to the Government House in Victoria, where they had left the kids for the day.

On Monday, despite de rain,  the royal couple got their first exposure to British Columbia’s natural beauty and indigenous culture with a visit to the Great Bear Rainforest in Bella Bella, the world’s largest temperate rainforest and home to the Kermode (Spirit) bear, a sub-species of black bear distinctive for its white fur, and to a rich marine life including whales, sea otters and dolphins.

The tour of the world-renowned, 400-kilometer pristine ecosystem was conducted mainly by helicopter. William and Kate dedicated the territory as part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy initiative, a network of forest conservation programs in the 53 Commonwealth countries.

They also participated in cultural ceremonies at the Wawiskas Community Hall in Bella Bella and met Head Hereditary Chief Woyala, who bore a Royal Staff given to his great-grandfather by Queen Victoria.

Monday evening, the Duke and Duchess attended the reception at the Government House - Kate, resplendent in her red dress and red shoes.

Behind the cheering crowds, the government receptions, the visits to agencies, communities, cities and beautiful natural wonders, the region seems to share a common expectation: to be graced by what could be called 'the power of the royal touch.' Although difficult to attach a number, the benefits of William and Kate’s 'Branding Power' is demonstrably enormous and Canadians harbor big hopes that this visit will give a push to their stagnating economy, and international exposure to the causes, organizations, businesses and places they visit.

“The communities and businesses in those areas are well aware the world’s attention will be on them when the Royals are in town,” explained Global News in a recent article about the impact of the royal visit on British Columbia's economy.

“We have certainly seen how royal visits of this nature really boost tourism and I think we are ready for it," said Jessie Housty, a tribal councillor with the Heiltsuk First Nation in Bella Bella. "I think this royal visit is really going to amplify that for the global audience,”

“The number of places that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit in their lifetimes is not very large,” Chris Shauf of Tourism Kelowna told the paper. “To be included on that list is a point of pride for people who live here. We know that an international audience is going to be following them. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our destination."

Anthony von Mandl of Mission Hill Winery, whose vineyard is included on the Cambridges's schedule, is confident that their visit will produce positive effects for the entire region. “We have been working so hard for many years to put Okanagan and our wines on the world stage," he told Global News. "To have the privilege of the Duke and Duchess visiting is just a gift. It’s going to help our region so immensely."

Apart from tourism, there are other causes with big expectations. Prince William had expressed particular interest in environmental affairs for the trip and concerned locals in Vancouver hope that the presence of the royal couple will draw attention to their anxiety over a major oil pipeline expansion in their coast.

“Amidst hundreds of cameras, cheering fans, and security guards waiting to greet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a coast guard station in Vancouver on Sunday, a lone blue banner of protest waved above the crowds," the National Observer reported. " ‘Stop Kinder Morgan,’ it read, referencing a major oilsands pipeline expansion proposal that, if approved by Canada's federal government later this year, would increase tanker traffic in Vancouver's waters by 600%, increasing the risk of a catastrophic marine oil spill,”

The Canadian economy hasn’t recovered since the global financial meltdown. “Canada’s economy could take 15 years to ‘reinvent’ itself” according to David McKay, head of Royal Bank of Canada, who added that following the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, heavy manufacturing and service industries were lost, and haven’t come back.

Canada lost more than 7,000 exporting companies to the United States during that crisis and many economists believe the Canadian economy is in the throes of an identity crisis.

The Cambridges have a packed schedule for this trip. More than 30 events that will be affected by their royal presence and one can only wonder how aware they are of the soft power they wield.

Here's their program for the rest of the week:

September 27: Kelowna, British Columbia, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Will and Kate will visit the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus around 12:30 p.m. to unveil a plaque commemorating its 10th anniversary. They'll then head over to the Mission Hill Family Estate around 2 p.m. In the evening, they'll go to the Yukon to attend a First Nations ceremonial performance at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

September 28: Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon Territory

The royal couple will start the day with a visit to the MacBride Museum of Yukon History at 9 a.m., before attending a community festival on Main Street. At 11 a.m., they'll be welcomed by the Carcross/Tagish First Nation community before being treated to a mountain biking demonstration on Montana Mountain two hours later.

September 29: Victoria

The Government House will host a tea party with children from the Victoria area mostly from military families, including ones who are currently serving.

September 30: Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

The pair will paddle in canoes from Skidegate Landing to Haida Heritage Centre and Museum, arriving after noon. They'll tour the new Haidi Gwaii General Hospital at 2 p.m. before hopping on a fishing boat with local youth.

October 1: Victoria

Will and Kate will spend their final morning at The Cridge Centre for the Family, where a new monument will be unveiled. Just before noon, they'll sail on a boat from Ogden Point to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. At 3:40 p.m., the trip wraps up and the couple will depart at the Victoria Harbour seaplane terminal.