Wow.
It’s been a few days since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially departed Canada, and many Canadians are still feeling the high of seeing Prince William and Kate Middleton up close during their first official tour as newlyweds.
Seeing the reactions of the thousands of people who camped out along the Calgary Stampede parade route for hours on end, even just to catch a split second glimpse, was incredible.
It’s safe to say many are practicing our “screw the light bulb” royal waves as we bid adieu to their Royal Highnesses as born-again monarchists.
During their whirlwind 10-day tour of Canada, Will and Kate captivated thousands with their charm and grace.
It’s hard not to get swept up into the royal mania that dominated the headlines day after day, and I’ll be the first to take responsibility for the spattering of Will and Kate stories that have covered the pages of the Western Wheel.
On July 7 and 8, that coverage continued as I was one of a crowd of about 50 journalists who followed their Royal Highnesses’ every move during their brief stop in Calgary.
What an experience not only to get a glimpse of the royals in their western gear and white Smithbilt hats (which they did eventually don), but to be amidst such high calibre journalists from some of the world’s most renowned media organizations, from Reuters to the BBC, Maclean’s magazine and the Huffington Post.
Even with the chaos that surrounded me as an infinite number of cameras flashed at once, that first moment of peering through my camera’s lens finder as Will and Kate waltzed down the tarmac, her pale yellow silk dress fluttering in the wind, was unforgettable.
The couple’s star power is undeniable. They seemingly glow from within the crowd of security personnel surrounding them and providing protection from the hordes scampering to shake the hand of the next King of England and his Duchess.
I’m not the only one still reeling from the experience. A conversation with some well-spoken young girls who waited hours to meet a real life prince and princess left a memorable mark on me.
“It was like a dream or something,” said 11-year-old Ambreena Ladhani in an interview just moments after she shook hands with Kate Middleton at the Calgary Zoo.
Hundreds of eager spectators lined the zoo lawns for hours on day two of the couple’s visit, with the hopes they would get to meet the couple. To their delight, both spent several moments shaking hands and accepting bouquets of flowers from the ecstatic royal watchers. Kate especially took some time to chat with the young girls who, with heads bowed, shyly smiled up the princess and introduced themselves.
Ambreena, her sister Noorani, 13, and their friend 11-year-old Grant McArthur waited in line for a couple of hours for the chance to see the couple in person.
“It was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is really happening to me.’ I will always remember this moment,” Ambreena continued.
“It’s history in the making,” added Noorani. “I can tell my children, and grandchildren… and everyone on Facebook.”
As the reality of the scene that had just unfolded finally set in, and the giddy children continued to gush about their encounter with the royalty, it was clear just how much of an impact their visit had on this generation of young Canadians.
“Kate Middleton is a phenomenal role model for all of us as kids,” said Ambreena.
“And the same with Prince William,” piped up Grant who had a brief conversation with the Prince about the Stampede Parade. “He’s a really nice gentleman, and he’s very polite to everyone and shakes everybody’s hands.”
In his speech at the BMO Centre, Prince William announced, “Our promise to Canada is that we shall return.”
Already yearning for another rush of the adventure covering the royal couple, all I can say is, I hope their next visit takes place sooner rather than later. I’m sure the Ladhani sisters would [email protected]
