Duke and Duchess arrive in Canada

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The newlyweds leave from Heathrow Airport for their first royal tour

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have landed in Canada on their first official overseas tour.

Prince William and his wife Kate left London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday morning on a Canadian Air Force jet bound for Ottawa, and touched down 1400 local time (1900 BST).

The Duchess wore a navy dress by French designer Roland Mouret and a blazer by Canadian label Smythe les Vestes.

The couple will visit seven Canadian cities before heading to the US.

Their first official duty will be to lay a wreath at Canada’s National War Museum, before being officially welcomed and attending a barbecue hosted by Canada’s governor general, David Johnston.

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II is its head of state.

On 1 July, the Duke and Duchess will celebrate Canada’s national day. Thousands of people are expected to gather on Ottawa’s streets to glimpse the royal couple.

The pair will also visit Quebec, Prince Edward Island – where they are to participate in a dragon boat race – and Calgary.

In Calgary they will open the Calgary Stampede – an annual rodeo and festival dubbed the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”.

Canada has created a new royal flag for the visit. It features three maple leaves – from Canada’s national tree – at its base.

The flag will be flying from the cockpit of the jet carrying the royal couple when they touch down on Thursday afternoon. It will also fly from their cars and buildings they are visiting or staying in.

The visit will be closely followed by the media, with nearly 1,400 journalists – including about 100 from Britain – accredited to cover the visit.

BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt says Canada is a safe first visit for a royal spreading her new wings, while US residents continue to be fascinated by Britain’s royalty.

The cost of the visit to the Canadian government, not including security, is estimated to be 1.4 million Canadian dollars (£958,580).

A poll commissioned by the Toronto Star newspaper found that more than half the 18 to 34 year-olds questioned about the visit were indifferent about the trip.

But Governor General David Johnston said Canadians had great respect for their monarchy, which had evolved over some 400 years.

“I think we value enormously the constitutional monarchy and the very stable rule of law that it represents in a world where many people envy the systems of government in the UK, Canada and other parts of the Commonwealth,” he said.

Canadian secretary to the Queen Kevin MacLeod, who has co-ordinated the tour, said: “I think, given the dynamism of this couple, (they) continue to reaffirm the important role the Crown plays in this country.”

The Duke and Duchess will travel to the US state of California for two days from 8 July, attending a black-tie Bafta reception and dinner in Los Angeles on 9 July. William is Bafta’s president.