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Day 8: 7 July 2011
Calgary, Canada

Arrival in Calgary. The cowboy hats, the cancer-stricken little girl, and the wind.

Kate fulfills a cancer-striken girl's wish. Todd Korol/Reuters

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Calgary International Airport were met by dignitaries and a very sick 6-year-old girl.  The mayor presented them with traditional white, stetson cowboy hats – a long-standing tradition in Calgary and a symbol of Western hospitality.  But to the disappointment of the crowd and media waiting, they didn’t put it on.  At least not right away…

But the highlight of the arrival went to six-year-old Diamond Marshall, a very sick girl with undifferentiated abdominal sarcoma, who had recently lost all her hair to chemotherapy and radiation.  Diamond’s wish of  meeting a real princess came true when she met Kate.  Read her letter to Kate here.  Unable to contain her excitement, the little girl ran across the tarmac to give Kate a hug.  Kate bent down despite the furious wind and chatted with the youngster.  A heartwarming moment that evokes memories of Diana.

It was very windy at the airport, and Kate struggled to prevent a Marilyn Monroe moment.  Kate was wearing a yellow (!!!) “Primrose dress” by Jenny Packham.   More about the dress

Tour of the University of Calgary Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre.  At the University of Calgary W21C Research and Innovation Centre, William & Kate attended a presentation on cutting-edge health research and innovation.  They met iStan, a human patient simulator.  iStan simulated a cardiac arrest, prompting Kate to undo his shirt as William performed CPR and used the AED. Article about the simulation.  Video here.

Reception at BMO Centre. And the real fun begins.  Arriving by stage coach, wearing their new white ten gallon hats and full cowboy gear, William and Kate made a colourful entrance to the Calgary Stampede exhibition centre. William threw a stove into a “chuck wagon,” the traditional way to start one of the stampede’s races. The royal pair also got a chance to see rodeo riders, including “mutton busting” – young kids riding on sheep in their version of the rodeo.  William even almost stepped into a bullpen, making his wife and security team nervous.

Yee-haw! William & Kate in full cowboy spirit at Calgary

Prince William later gave a beautiful speech, thanking Canadians for their welcome, praising its beauty, and describing their unforgettable week:

“In 1939 my great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, said of her first tour of Canada with her husband, King George VI: ‘Canada made us.’ Catherine and I now know very well what she meant.”

“Canada has far surpassed all that we were promised. Our promise to Canada is that we shall return”

I am sure Canadians will be very pleased with that. After all, as PM Stephen Harper said about the people’s reaction to their tour: “we haven’t seen a love-in like that since the first visit of the Beatles!”


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Pictures: Getty Images | Rex Features | IB Times

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