Prince William and Kate Middleton eye Canada after royal wedding

Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit Canada

Prince William and Kate Middleton are going to Canada for a royal visit -- their first after their royal wedding -- from June 30 to July 8 according to St. James's Palace. Their wedding is slated on April 29 at Westminster Abbey.

"Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton have accepted an invitation from the government of Canada to undertake a royal tour of Canada," the most senior palace in the UK said in a statement Wednesday.

The couple will visit the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, Quebec and the capital Ottawa, where they will be welcomed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The 28-year old Prince William last visited Canada in 1998 at age 15 during a visit to Vancouver with his father Prince Charles and brother Prince Harry. His mother Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic head of state of Canada, the country being part of the Commonwealth realms. Kate Middleton will be visiting with his future husband who is considered a prince of Canada instead of a foreign royal.

"Prince William was keen to be able to visit Canada for himself as an adult, and to be able to show his wife a country that is close to his family's heart," the statement said.

"It is my sincere hope that their tour will be the start of a lasting relationship with Canada by the royal couple," Harper said about the visit.

The fiancee's sister Philippa will be maid of honor and Prince Harry will be best man of the much-anticipated wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Posted by Kade Quinn on Thursday February 17 2011, 4:28 AM EST. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Entertainment, Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0