ROYAL VISIT: Kate-mania in Canada!

Beaming broadly, a picture-perfect Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Ottawa this afternoon to be greeted by thousands of Royal fans as they began their first official Royal tour together.


Kate looked elegant and graceful despite the blustery conditions, and concealed any nerves on this, her first major test as a fully-fledged member of the Royal family, with a wide smile.

The newlywed couple were greeted by a host of dignitaries and a wall of photographers as they stepped on to the gusty runway, before being driven to the city centre where crowds had been gathering to meet the couple since early this morning.

They were formally greeted at the airport by the Canadian Foreign Minister. The Duchess accepted a posy from a young boy on the tarmac and chatted to him for some time before moving along the line of dignitaries as William waited for a few moments in their car.

It was adorned with a special flag created in their honour by Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper - the first to be designed by the Commonwealth country for a member of the royal family since 1962.


The flag was given Prince William’s seal of approval and that of the Queen, who was the last royal to adopt one for her own use.


The Duchess had transformed herself during the seven hour flight from London, and was wearing a dress by the hugely fashionable designer Erdem Moralioglu, favoured by Samantha Cameron and Michelle Obama. Erdem is another Canadian designer born in Montreal.

The dress was a navy, lace Cecile shift scoop-backed dress of contrast stone crepe with a navy lace overlay. The dress has a sheer lace sleeve with a scallop detail.


She sported the same nude LK Bennett £175 heels she has sported on several occasions recently. Her hairdresser, James Pryce, had also swept her hair back in a 'half up, half down' do to account for the slight breeze.

After their official welcome, they headed straight for the National War Memorial in the centre of the city.

As the couple's official car drew up along the red carpet, they were greeted by the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen.

The 10,000 strong crowd, waving Canadian flags and flowers, cheered wildly as they stepped out. Tanned Kate looked particularly delighted at the warm reception and waved shyly.

The foursome approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and stood in quiet contemplation as the Last Post was played by a lone trumpeter.


William then placed a large wreath on the monument while his wife leant forwards to put down a small posey. The duchess warmly greeted the woman who had handed it to her, Mabel Girouard.

Mrs Girouard's son Bobby, 46, was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2006. She was chosen by the Canadian Legion as their Memorial Silver Cross Mother.

As they left the memorial the couple undertook what will be the first of many walkabouts, sending the crowd into a frenzy. There were as many screams for William as there were for Kate.

The Duchess looked delighted as she was handed armfuls of flowers and gifts.'Thank you so much. We are so delighted to be here,' she said.

Great honour: A special flag created for the young Royal couple flew from the bonnet of their car. It's the first new flag to be designed by a Commonwealth country for a member of the Royal family since 1962. Right, the Prince's standard was waved from the Canadian Air Force plane as the couple landed

Occasionally she looked over to her husband on the other side of the crowd to make sure she was moving quickly enough.

GLITTERING KATE: QUEEN OFFERS DUCHESS THE PICK OF HER JEWELS

The Mail can reveal that the Queen has given the new Duchess the pick of her fabulous collection of jewels for the 11-day trip.

The monarch, who is said to be extremely fond of her grandson’s new bride, wants Kate to shine on her first major test as a member of the Royal Family.

A few weeks ago she invited the 29-year-old Duchess into Buckingham Palace to choose from her priceless collection of tiaras, necklaces and bracelets.

Some, such as the legendary Delhi Durbar diamond and emerald necklace, belong to the Queen personally, while others are held by the monarch on behalf of the nation.

A source said: 'Although, given the largely informal theme of the tour, particularly in Canada, there is no need for tiaras or the like, the Queen owns one of the most valuable collections of jewellery.

‘The Duchess was touched by her offer. She has picked out one or two exquisite pieces she wishes to borrow.

'Her choices were made with a particular eye on the Los Angeles leg of the trip, where she knows she needs to dazzle.’

William looked equally thrilled as one woman told him;'Canada is so happy you are here.' 'Thank you, that is so kind,' he replied.

As she waited for the prince to finish Kate chatted with the Prime Minister and his wife and told them: 'That was so amazing, there were so many people there.... How many do you think?

'We have been on the go since 7.30 this morning so it's been a long day.'

Then, as the couple got into their official car, her first test over, Kate leant into her husband's shoulder and grinned broadly with undisguised relief.

But the new Duchess only had a brief respite before the couple were driven to Ottawa's Rideau Hall, the governor general's residence, for an official welcome event.

Prince William charmed the crowd by flitting between English and French, as Kate looked on admiringly.

He joked: 'It will improve as we go on,' and continued: 'Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada.

'Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who love this country, we have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time – and before we were married, we had a longing to come here together.

'The geography of Canada is unsurpassed and is famous for being matched only by the hospitality of its people. We are so very excited about having this opportunity to experience both – and learn much more about this amazing country.'

Among those who turned out the greet the Royal couple was Jennifer Baldwin, 19, who drove for 21 hours from her home in Bloomington, Illinois, and stood in the street from 5.30am to see the couple at close quarters.

She said: 'I talked to William and congratulated him on the wedding and he said "thank you very much", he's so polite! My mum told him we had come from the U.S. and he said: "We're going there next".

'It was completely worth the journey just for that five seconds. I mean, I shook his hand!'

Francine Dorion, 50, gave the Duchess a tapestry she had made, featuring a picture of the couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day.

She said: 'Kate said it was beautiful and thanked me for doing it for them. She is so pretty and reminds me of Diana. She just steals you.'

Tomorrow they will take part in Canada Day - a special day for William as it would have been his mother's 50th birthday. They will be opening the Calgary Stampede and canoeing in the Northwest Territories before flying to Los Angeles.

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a sombre start to their official tour with a visit to the Canadian War Memorial. Flanked by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, they pause for a moment of silence

During the visit, Prince William will demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by performing a water landing. Later, they will head to Quebec City where they will don their aprons for a cooking workshop.

Tomorrow they will mark Canada Day and after their week-long tour of Canada they will jet to LA to host a gala dinner.

There, they will promote up-and-coming British film talent by introducing them to Hollywood executives.

The south Californian trip will include a $4,000-a-head three-course meal and charity polo match, giving revellers an opportunity to get close to the Duke and Duchess.

The Queen has given the new Duchess the pick of her fabulous collection of jewels for the 11-day trip.


The monarch, who is said to be extremely fond of her grandson’s new bride, wants Kate to shine on her first major test as a member of the Royal Family.

A few weeks ago she invited the 29-year-old Duchess into Buckingham Palace to choose from her priceless collection of tiaras, necklaces and bracelets, and she picked out one or two pieces to borrow.

While Kate is said to be ‘excited beyond belief’ at the prospect of the hugely anticipated tour, she is also keen not to overshadow her new husband.

It is one of the reasons she has chosen not to make any public speeches during the trip, while the Duke will make several.


In this she appears to have learnt a lesson from the experience of Princess Diana, who repeatedly stole the limelight from her then husband, Prince Charles, and in doing so unwittingly drove a wedge between them.

The prince would become particularly frustrated when, during official walkabouts, the crowds would groan and call for Diana when he approached them.

Walkabouts will be a particular feature of the Canadian leg of William and Kate’ s trip as they attempt to meet as many of their future subjects as possible.

Their arrival in the Commonwealth country, where the Queen is still sovereign, is eagerly anticipated, with frenzied minute-by-minute television coverage.

Each public appearance is expected to draw thousands of well-wishers on to the streets and large crowds gathered from early yesterday keen to meet the glamorous young newly-weds.


Some anti-royal protests are, however, expected later in the week in the French-speaking provinces, with small republican groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

‘This visit is really a battle for the hearts and minds of Canadian as to what to do down the road about the head of state in Canada,’ said University of Ottawa History Professor Michael Behiels.

They had no fears about winning over Joyce Udell, 57, a diplomat with the Canadian Government, had delayed travelling home to St John's in Newfoundland in order to see the couple.

She said: 'I don't like to use the word admire but I like her style, I like both their styles, they're not as ostentatious as some in the royal family.


'Kate, she reinvents herself with her clothes and wears the same dress twice - which the royals don't do.

'They are going to be a fabulous king and queen in the future. They are obviously in love and I think that's where their strength lies.'

Cherie Gray, 50, a by-law enforcement officer from the town of Manitouwadge, Ontario had made a six-hour detour while on holiday in the national province with husband David, 51, to see the royal couple.

She said: 'We're so excited to be here and hopefully to meet Kate - she brings a new revival to the royal family and represents the younger generation.'

June 30-July 2: The National Capital Region (Ottawa)

2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Canada and USA remember 2007 match

DETROIT -- Canadian international midfielder Julian de Guzman has seen the replay so many times that he has had his fill of it.  Atiba Hutchinson thought he had just equalized against the United States in the fifth minute of injury time in the 2007 Gold Cup semifinals, only to have the goal ruled offside by Mexican referee Benito Archundia. Instead of forcing extra time, the game ended 30 seconds later with the Canadians gutted.

The United States went on to win the title and represent CONCACAF in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
If the Canadians are thinking retribution in both teams' Gold Cup opener on Tuesday in Detroit -- their first confrontation against their sourthern neighbors since the match, they hid it well Monday.

"I've seen enough of it to finally put it aside and to move on," De Guzman said. "That's how it is in life. There are things you've just got to put aside and carry on and wish for another opportunity.

"There's another opportunity for us again for us to prove ourselves that we belong in the top of with the rest of CONCACAF. This will be a good test for us. We couldn't ask for a better way to start this Gold Cup against one of our top rivals."

Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said that hopes his teammates don't let their emotions get to them about that call four years ago.

"The one thing about this game tomorrow, We can't let our emotions get the best of us," he said. That's when you get burned and you get exposed because you're trying to do too much. It's very important that we keep composed, stick to our game plan and we play the way we know how to play."

The Canadians did get something out of the game -- a big boost to their confidence.

"It was a big spark that we could run with the big boys, best in the world as well, and the U.S. is among the best in the world," De Guzman said. "But then again, that was four years ago. I think we have a better side this tournament. a lot of young and up and coming talent, guys who have done well on their clubs. . . . We have more depth as well."

The Americans did not feel the Canadians' thoughts of avenging the 2007 match, only that their opponents matched up well and would give them a run for their money. "They have some good players," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "They are very much in our mold as well -- a dogged, hard-working team. They have some European experience, some MLS guys in the mix. I think it will be an interesting game. It will be a good battle. Physcially, it will be a good battle."

It might not have necessarily the passion of the Mexico-U.S. derby, but Canada-U.S. is a big deal, say the Canadian players. "It's not a big deal for the team, but for the country," he said. "It's always a healthy rivalry. I think that in any sport, U.S. against Canada is always a little bit of an edge and it won't be any different tomorrow."

De Rosario said it was difficult to gauge how many Canadians will come over from nearby Windsor, Ontario and parts north, west and east and cheer on their heroes in what has been dubbed the Border War or Border Clash.

"Hopefully, Canadian fans come in and show their support," he said. "The main thing is getting the Canadian fans behind us and hopefully we'll see them show up in numbers and show their support. It's a huge game. We're definitely going to need our 12th man, which is the fans there to support us."

While the Border War has been getting much of the attention here, there is another game on Tuesday -- the opening match between Panama and Guadeloupe.

The Central American side has reached at least the quarterfinals the past three Gold Cups, losing to the United States in the final on penalty kicks in 2005.

Guadeloupe was the sensation of the 2007 Gold Cup, playing giant killer and reaching the semifinals.

Panama national coach Julio Dely Valdes expects the Caribbean island to be a difficult challenge.

"They're a strong team with a lot of velocity who will try to repeat the performance in the '07 tournament, which I think was very good performance for them," he said.

Actually, Guadeloupe would love to have a repeat of its 2009 opener, when it defeated Panama 2-1.

"We know if we win the first game, we have a good chance to qualify for the second round," midfielder Stephane Auvray said. "We will do our best to try to come out with a victory like two years ago."



Osorio leaves Gold Cup, returns to Mexico
 

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Mexican defender Ricardo Osorio did not make the trip from Dallas to Charlotte. The veteran defender was sent directly from Dallas, where Mexico defeated El Salvador 5-0 in their Gold Cup opener on Sunday, to Monterrey on Monday due to an illness.  Mexico's Director of National Teams Hector Gonzalez Iñarritu confirmed Osorio's departure.

Iñarritu said Osorio will undergo further medical tests in Monterrey after the player suffered from pain in his urinary tract. The team's medical staff and team doctor Jose Luis Serrano monitored and treated Osorio's symptoms in Dallas but they felt he needed further attention.

"Our policy has always been to give our players all the support from a health and family point of view," Iñarritu said. "That's the primary concern. The sporting side is also important but we have been consistent in giving players our backing and that's what is important."

Iñarritu said Serrano explained that Osorio complained of pain and the veteran placer said that his family's medical history includes illnesses related to the prostate. He didn't elaborate.

"Right now what we want is for him to get better so he can return and join us once again," Iñarritu said.

There is no timeframe for Osorio's recovery.

Osorio will not return to the Gold Cup. Tournament rules state that a team can replace a player up to 24 hours prior to its first match.

Osorio did not dress for Sunday's game against El Salvador

Canada to open camp in Alliston and plays vs Ecuador at BMO Field on June 1

Canada to open camp in Alliston





Canada’s national team begins its arrival today in Alliston, ON in advance of next week’s Men’s International Friendly match at BMO Field in Toronto. Canada will face Ecuador on Wednesday 1 June in a send-off match before the start of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Canada-Ecuador match kicks off at 19.00 ET.
Tickets to the Canada match are available through Ticketmaster at 1.855.985.5000 or ticketmaster.ca. There is a range of ticket price options available for the 1 June match with prices starting as low as $20. Group tickets are available through the Ontario Soccer Association (tickets@soccer.on.ca). For group tickets in the Canadian supporters section contact voyageurstickets@gmail.com.
Coach Stephen Hart has selected 23 players for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with 20 players expected to travel beginning 5 July to Detroit. Canada’s opening match of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup is 7 June at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Canada’s three group opponents are USA (7 June), Guadeloupe (11 June in Tampa) and Panama (14 June in Kansas City).



Only part of the Canadian roster will arrive in Alliston this week, as some players complete or continue their season with their professional clubs in North America and Europe. The remaining players are expected to arrive in Toronto over the weekend as the team shifts from Alliston to Toronto on Sunday. Canada should then have its full team for training on Monday 30 May.