Royal Watch News

Britain's Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Canada

Sep 14, 2012, 12:01 GMT

The Earl and the Countess of Wessex

Britain's Earl and Countess of Wessex are proving popular in Canada.

The royal couple have started their seven-day tour of Canada after touching down in Ottawa earlier this week where they were hosted by Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon at Rideau Hall, before travelling up North for the first time to Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Premier Eva Aariak was thrilled to meet the royals and tweeted her appreciation: 'It was an honour to welcome the Earl and Countess of Wessex to Nunavut last night. I look forward to the feast tonight!'

During the trip they will hand out around 250 Duke of Edinburgh Awards - which are handed out to youngsters who complete a programme of activities - to high-achieving young Canadians.

They are also set to visit the Ontario cities of Trenton, Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Midland.

Queen Elizabeth's youngest son and his wife have visited Canada many times - this is Prince Edward's 33rd visit and Sophie's ninth - because they are colonels-in-chief to several Canadian Forces regiments as well as being patrons for a number of Canadian charities.