05 July,2011 07:51 AM IST | | Agencies
Duchess of Cambridge expresses her hopes of starting a family
The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday spoke for the first time about starting a family.
As Kate accepted flowers from two-year-old Raffaela Cheater in Quebec city, British ex-pat dad David (28) wished her well in her efforts to start a family. Kate replied, "Yes, I hope to."
Catherine Middleton greets well-wishers across Charlottetown. During the visit, it has been noticed that the Duchess has been close and exceptionally kind with children and expressed a desire to start a family of her own
It is the first time the Duchess has spoken publicly about having children, although Prince William stated when the couple got engaged that a family was something they both wanted.
If Kate follows royal precedence she could be giving birth to an heir before April next year.
William was born on June 21, 1982 about 11 months after his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, married in July 1981.
The Queen gave birth to Charles on November 14, 1948, just short of a year after marrying the Duke of Edinburgh on November 20, 1947.
The cradle of Confederation was teeming with smiling faces young and old yesterday as Prince William and Kate began their day in Prince Edward Island at the site of the Charlottetown Conference, which laid the foundation for Canada's birth.
Thousands of people, many of them having spent the night outside, were gathered at Province House, PEI's legislature and the site of the historic meeting some 146 years ago that paved the way for Confederation.
A sea of small Canadian flags had gathered beneath slightly overcast skies to catch a glimpse by the time the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived Kate in a cream pencil dress by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, William his traditional blue suit with a burgundy tie.
"It is quite a moment for Catherine and me to be standing here in the Atlantic Canada, in front of Province House, where Canadian federation was forged," William told the enthusiastic, cheering crowd.
"Here, in the crucible of Canadian nationhood, we look forward to meeting many of you."
Premier Robert Ghiz introduced William, announcing the establishment of a scholarship fund in the name of the duke and duchess.
"We have both so looked forward to this day, and discovering more about your beautiful island," William said.
"We are also delighted that you have chosen to inaugurate a scholarship in our names. Thank you for this wonderful and generous welcome."
From there, the duke and duchess split up and began working the crowd, shaking hands with the many spectators pressed up against the barricades along the street, utterly unfazed by the spitting rain that began to fall.
Lone protest
The crowd was almost universally friendly, save for one lone protester toting a small sign that read, "You are not my prince." Unsympathetic spectators nearby used umbrellas to obscure the sign.
Boat racing
From Charlottetown, the duke and duchess will travel to Dalvay by sea, where Prince William, an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, will join his Canadian counterparts in landing a Sea King helicopter on water.
Later, they will steer teams of professional dragon boat racers and local athletes across Dalvay Lake.
Going nautical
The Duchess of Cambridge chose a nautical-inspired, cream pencil dress by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueenu00a0the same designer who designed her wedding dress.
Dying Wish
Prince William and Kate granted a dying man his final wish by visiting him during their royal tour of Canada. Terminally ill cancer patient Terry Joyce of Ottawa was informed by doctors that he had only three months left to live. His wish of meeting Wills-Kate came true as they have seaside time from their busy tour schedule to meet Joyce.
