Prince William, Kate tour Vancouver without kids day after Trudeau denied high-five
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Prince George and Princess Charlotte stayed behind with their nanny as Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Kate, continued their tour of British Columbia on Sunday, a day after George left Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hanging on a high-five.
The 3-year-old George made headlines in the United Kingdom when George, seemingly shy and overwhelmed, declined to high-five and then shake the hand of Trudeau during the arrival ceremony Saturday at the airport in Victoria, B.C. The prime minister was among several dignitaries waiting on the tarmac to greet the royals when they emerged from their flight. Videos and photos of the interaction were shared widely by British media.
The Mirror wrote: “Superstar politician Mr. Trudeau might have endeared himself to millions online through his outspoken feminism, support for diversity and willingness to embrace internet memes, but it seems to take more than that to impress Will and Kate’s eldest.”
The Daily Mail shared a story with the headline: “Sorry, one doesn’t high-five with commoners.”
The kids are remaining in Victoria as their parents visit other parts of British Columbia and Western Canada until Oct. 1 on their first official overseas trip as a family of four. On the second day of their trip the British royal couple flew on a float plane to Vancouver, where they were greeted at the waterfront by several hundred fans who gave them a raucous welcome.
Both spent time talking with people and appeared to be trying to shake hands with everyone they could. Kate, with her hair down, was wearing a red-and-white patterned dress by the late British designer Alexander McQueen, red shoes and a red purse.
The couple then stopped at an outreach center for women with drug and alcohol addictions who are pregnant or parenting.
A staff member introduced them to a 5-year-old girl, who gave them teddy bears.
“George would love this,” William said as he accepted a teddy bear in a black vest.
Charlotte, 1, is on her first overseas trip. George is on his second.
Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, later met the royal couple outside the Immigrant Services Society’s new Welcome House. William asked a refugee from Afghanistan about how the society had helped him, and the refugee replied that it helped him get into a technology course so he could learn new skills.
Syrian refugees who met the royal couple said they wish more world leaders were as attentive to their country’s plight. Canada has welcomed more than 30,000 refugees since Trudeau became prime minister.
“The message we hope they will deliver is to help people in need,” Alaa Almahameed said through an interpreter
Plans to show off one of British Columbia’s most beautiful areas to William and Kate were scuttled by bad weather.
The aerial tour of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest and a boat tour of Bella Bella Harbour for the British royals were canceled Monday.
Winds gusted, the water was choppy and it was pouring rain on British Columbia’s central coast, an area well known for its wet weather.