Prince William, Kate Middleton to Visit U.S. Veterans, Inner-City Youths
An estimated 1,300 reporters are following Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, during their first trip abroad as a married couple, confirming to Americans they have that undeniable “star power.”
The media has already reported on the couple's every move during the Royal Tour in Canada this week, from Prince William’s habits to former Kate Middleton’s wardrobe changes.
The Royal Tour was tagged as “Moving Forward Together" by palace officials.
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William and Kate plan to combine "red-carpet glamour with serious charity" work during their trip to California this week, palace officials said.
The British media has nearly 100 journalists in Canada covering the royal tour and their stories are thick with the public's fascination with Kate. Recent news headlines read like an event for the decades.
A Canadian news agency had this to say about the couple’s trip to their country: “Their Royal Highnesses will come to know Canada and, in the process, develop their own lasting bonds of affection with Canada and Canadians.”
"Kate was given a rapturous welcome in Ottawa," a top headline read on The Telegraph website. "Kate-mania!" was the The Daily Mail's headline.
The Telegraph described Kate's "grip on the crowds as thousands cheered her every step.''
"Many of them chanted her name, rock star-style,'' wrote the newspaper. "Ottawa will be remembered as the city where international Kate-mania was born."
Several reports highlight Kate’s popular wardrobe choices, hats and hair design, which is something most Americans want to hear about.
Using something along the lines of poetic prose, the news reports on what she is wearing is very detailed – down to the shoes she is wearing.
“Kate was the picture of understated elegance on the runway in a blue Roland Mouret dress and matching £579 blazer with gold buttons, by Smythe,” reported one news reporter.
“She accessorized 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.”
Kate’s wardrobe for the Royal Tour has been a secret up until now, but it has been reported that she hired a personal shopper at the London department store Selfridges.
The ten-day tour started off when the royal couple boarded a plane for Canada on June 30 and will wrap up in California with some high-profile celebrities hoping they will visit Hollywood so they can show them the real red-carpet treatment.
However, the Prince of Wales’s official press site says they will scale back plans to meet loads of celebrities and keep it focused on work.
"When her majesty the Queen visited Canada last summer 18 international journalists came along on the trip. On this trip 241 international journalists are coming," Heritage Minister James Moore told CTV's Canada AM last week.
"The total number we would expect to be about 1,300 journalists covering the trip. It is by far the largest and most covered royal visit Canada has ever seen."
The couple’s hyped-up visit abroad has a packed schedule attached to it, but while they are touring Canada, Moore said there will still be room to go “off-script.”
"There will be some moments that are not expected or defined by the specifics of the itinerary," Moore said.
A three-day visit to the Los Angeles area will be Middleton's first visit to the United States. Friday would have been the 50th birthday of Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana.
The royal itinerary in California includes a visit to an arts program for inner-city youths and a meeting with military families to learn more about how veterans are reintegrated into society.
They will also pack care packages scheduled to be mailed off to service personnel in Afghanistan.
William and Kate's arrival in Canada and California is highly anticipated by many who have already greeted the couple with roses, cheers, and waving flags.
A group of demonstrators, who object to the monarchy and what they represent, met the couple at one Canadian stop.
The anti-monarchy protesters will reportedly be voicing their taunts on Sunday at Quebec City Hall.
CNN reports that “Quebec's relationship with the monarchy has often been strained, with the Queen met by booing protesters on a visit to the province in 1964.”
Canada will be footing the bill for the Canadian portion of the trip.
The royal couple on Friday attended a celebration of Canada Day, which is the 144th anniversary of the country's independence.
"Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada, instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who loved this country. We've been looking forward to this moment for a very long time,'' William told roughly 6,000 onlookers.
"And before we were married, we had a longing to come here together.''
It has been reported that former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger helped the royals to arrange their scheduled visits in America, while businessman Steve Tisch plans to hold an exclusive dinner for the couple.
"The duke and duchess will attend a black-tie dinner at LA's renovated Belasco Theater on July 9," said private secretary to the royals, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.
According to media reports there are a handful of celebrities competing for an invitation to the dinner.
“The whole town is talking about it,” said a Hollywood publication.
“Celebrities in California have everything including fame, money and power and so do the royal couple. But Hollywood fame cannot buy the opportunity to meet with the future king and queen of England. This is a dinner that makes all the famous names eager to participate in it."
