Royals miss Toronto!!!!! WHY????

William and Kate greet the masses in Ottawa

CP24 @ 3:30 p.m. - Thursday, June 30, 2011

OTTAWA — Prince William and Kate have arrived to huge crowds and loud cheers in the nation's capital as the newlyweds begin their first official overseas tour since marrying in April.

They were greeted by sunshine, a stiff breeze and pleasantly warm temperatures, along with dignitaries and adoring throngs, to launch a nine-day Canadian tour documented by an army of world media.

William was dressed in a blue suit with burgundy tie; Kate in a dark, form-fitting, knee-length lace dress, her cascading brown hair pinned back. Nine-year-old Kellan Schleyer presented the duchess with a bouquet at the airport arrival.

They began their afternoon with a visit to the National War Memorial for a wreath-laying, book-signing and walkabout among the thousands of people lining barricades surrounding the memorial.

People crowded around the memorial a block from Parliament Hill and down a few blocks of adjacent Elgin Street past the National Arts Centre.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived early and greeted several in the audience before accompanying the couple along a red carpet to the monument.

Phone booths, benches and concrete flower beds had been claimed by those craning for a view over the hordes. Almost everyone seemed to have cellphone cameras at the ready.

Before William and Kate were to arrive, the crowd erupted in applause to welcome a group of veterans making their way to VIP seating. It was reminiscent of Remembrance Day services when people salute the sacrifice of veterans by applauding them.

Later, the couple will attend an official welcome at Government House hosted by Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston.

William is expected to make some remarks before they join a youth barbecue on the grounds of the Governor General's residence this evening.

The waiting crowd at Rideau Hall numbered about 3,800, and even before the couple arrived they repeatedly broke out in cheers followed by bursts of flag-waving.

About 200 VIPs flanked the Rideau Hall podium. Women far outnumbered men at the event. Lots of little girls sported the latest craze in headwear -- fascinator hats, many homemade. The delicate, frivolous head decorations, adorned with feathers and the like, have taken off since making an appearance at the couple's wedding April 29.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spend a little over two days in Ottawa -- including Friday's Canada Day activities -- before traveling to Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Yellowknife and Calgary.

About 30 royal enthusiasts pressed up against a fence at the government airport where the couple landed. Some waved Canadian flags, others lounged in the sun on picnic blankets as they waited.

The plane, a Canadian military craft, was at least two football fields away. No matter. Local resident Irene Nagle said she thought this was her best bet of a view.

"This is more intimate, rather than be with a million people. And this is their actual arrival. It was important to me because when Di was here I was too young so this is a special moment for me."

More than 1,300 journalists have been accredited to cover the royal tour, including more than 200 from countries other than Canada.

That's far more than the 20 foreign journalists who came along for the Queen's visit to Canada last summer. This year's international contingent hails from 13 different countries, including Qatar, Japan, India and China.

The royal couple's presence is expected to draw even larger-than-usual crowds to Friday's annual Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill.

In a Harris-Decima poll conducted for The Canadian Press, 77 per cent of respondents said they were aware that William and Kate were visiting Canada. A similar survey the previous year found only 55 per cent of respondents aware of the Queen's impending visit.

Not everyone is excited at the prospect of the visit, however.

Protests are expected at some stops along the tour; a small group of people is planning to strum guitars and wave placards outside a citizenship ceremony Friday to protest the mandatory oath of allegiance to the Queen.

In Quebec, the little-known Quebec Resistance Network is planning a protest against the monarchy.

Animal-rights activists opposed to the Calgary Stampede are also liable to make an appearance when William and Kate kick off the Stampede Parade festivities.