William Kate Cowboy Controversy
The royal couple arrived at Calgary International Airport at 4:55 p.m. MT from Lake Louise, having spent the night at a remote backcountry cabin in Banff National Park.
The welcoming line of dignitaries included Alberta Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell, Premier Ed Stelmach and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
About 150 people gathered outside the airport to catch a glimpse of the pair, many yeehawing in celebration.
William and Kate received Calgary's version of a crowning when Nenshi presented them with white cowboy hats at their official welcome to the city. Previous participants in the Calgary tradition include former U.S. president George W. Bush, the Dalai Lama and actor William Shatner.
But in what some commentators saw as a disappointment, the pair did not don the hats. Bookmakers had been taking bets on whether they would.
"They're getting our best white one that we have," said Bryce Nimmo, president of Calgary's Smithbilt Hats. "It's actually a rabbit fur, European hare," he said of the headgear, which is cut and shaped to regal perfection.
A warm welcome is expected for William and Kate in Calgary, where thousands lined up overnight earlier this week to obtain wristbands that will offer an opportunity to see the couple in person, either at the BMO Centre on the Stampede grounds Thursday evening, or at Challenger Rotary Park in northeast Calgary on Friday before the couple depart for the United States.
Mayor Nenshi defended the city's decision to only allow people with the free wristbands to get up close to the royal visitors at the public events.
"Rather than have a crush of people, we thought the fairest way to do it was to hand out these free wristbands so that people know in advance if they're going to have a chance to get in."
Advertisements started appearing on the website Kijiji late Wednesday morning from people trying to sell the wristbands. One vendor was asking $1,000 for a blue wristband, which grants access to the BMO Centre event.
From the airport, the royal motorcade headed to the University of Calgary fora presentation at the University of Calgary’s Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will later present them with a gift at an evening reception at the BMO Centre hosted by the government of Canada.
On Friday morning, William and Kate are scheduled to ride a section of the Calgary Stampede parade in reverse before the actual parade begins. Stampede participants were also preparing for the royal couple to take in demonstrations of chuck-wagon riding and bull riding.
The visit to the Stampede has aroused controversy among animal rights activists, with the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urging the pair to boycott the annual festival because, the organization says, some events involve cruel treatment of horses — six of which died last year at the Stampede — and bulls. Bull riding is also banned in Britain.
On Thursday, officials confirmed that William and Kate had spent the night at Skoki Lodge, a remote, rustic resort high above Lake Louise.
Known for its majestic vistas, the resort is an 11-kilometre hike — or helicopter ride, as the royals reportedly did it — through the Rocky Mountains.
The lodge has no electricity or running water. However, it was reported that one cabin was retrofitted just for the royal couple, with a full bathroom flown to the location in two separate parts.
Technically, it's William and Kate's second time in Calgary on their tour. They arrived briefly in the city Wednesday following their visit to the fire-ravaged town of Slave Lake in northern Alberta, but soon headed west toward the mountains in a military helicopter to an undisclosed location.
Their itinerary said they were "off the grid," taking a retreat after a hectic schedule since their arrival in Ottawa June 30.
Wednesday had originally been scheduled as a rest day, but the couple chose instead to visit Slave Lake and help lift the spirits of the damaged community.
Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee showed the couple the devastating results of the wildfires.
"They were very concerned, very caring. Just wanted to reach out to the people of Slave Lake and we are just so grateful for them for taking the time out of their day off to come touch our community," she said.
The final two events of the royal tour are a late-morning visit on Friday to the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo for a presentation on Alberta research and development in science and technology.
The royal couple then depart for Los Angeles following a midday ceremony with full military honours, including a 21-gun salute and an inspection of the guard of honour by Prince William.
Attending the ceremony will be Gov. Gen. David Johnston, the prime minister, Lt.-Gov. Ethell and Premier Stelmach.
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