OTTAWA – Canadians rolled out the red carpet and welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Parliament Hill with a Canada Day noon show filled with pomp, circumstance and a showcase of Canadian culture.
Crowds that gathered on the Hill since Thursday erupted into cheers when William and Kate pulled into view in the horse drawn carriage with Governor General David Johnston.
Kate matched crowds wearing a white dress, red shoes and one of her signature fascinators in red.
A parade of RCMP officers riding their signature black stallions led the carriage to Parliament Hill.
Will and Kate waved to tens of thousands as they made their way to the red carpet, making a brief stop to watch the ceremonial guard and listen to the military band play God Save the Queen and O Canada.
Two Canadian jets flew over and it looked like it caught both the crowds and the royals by surprise.
The couple then headed up the red carpet to the mainstage before a 21-gun salute.
They waved, but never strayed off the red carpet to greet the crowds of people there to see them, some of whom had been camped out overnight to catch a glimpse of the royals.
"It will be a Canada we never forget," said Jenny Evans, a British citizen living in Toronto.
Last night Evans checked out of her hotel and brought her bags to Parliament Hill and camped out in a prime location for royal viewing.
"It was a pretty party atmosphere," she said. "But it was odd when the Peace Tower was ringing every 15 minutes."
Evans was holding one of hundreds of Union Jacks mingled in with maple leafs, as people tried to attract the attention of the royal couple who will one day rule England.
Elaine Richard of Ottawa went to great lengths in an attempt to bridge old memories with new royal encounters.
"In 1983, I was in this very spot when Diana and Charles came," she said. "Diana went down one side and Charles down the other and I managed to shake his hand."
She crafted a sign featuring pictures from the 1983 tour to attract the eyes of Will and Kate.
Cecile Dumont of Quebec wasn’t only celebrating Canada’s birthday Friday. She set up a quiet memorial to William’s mother Diana, who would have turned 50 years old today.
"I loved her very deeply and I have loved William since she came out with him from St. Mary’s hospital in June of 1982," she said.
Dumont already managed to get. Handshake from William on Thursday, so on July 1 she has her sights set on Kate.
Only one side of the lawn was open before 10:30 a.m. in order to leave room for the ceremonial changing of the guards.
But once the show was over thousands stormed the lawn as an anthem mash-up played on the speakers overhead.
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