Journalists throng to cover William and Kate in Canada
CANADA: A whopping 1,300 journalists are accredited to cover
Britain's Prince William and his new wife Catherine's visit to Canada
from June 30 to July 7, Heritage Minister James Moore said Tuesday.
It is almost twice the number that followed the prince's grandmother,
Queen Elizabeth II, during her trip to the Commonwealth country last
year.
Among them will be 241 foreign journalists, including from Japan,
China, India and Qatar, Moore told a media briefing to highlight the
massive interest from around the world in the couple's first visit
abroad as newlyweds.
From donning aprons in a cookery workshop to taking part in a boat
race, the packed nine-day tour is being billed by royal officials as a
hands-on affair, and an energetic contrast to the more reserved approach
taken by the queen on foreign tours.
It is, however, like several royal visits to this country in the
past, also expected to see a few bumps as anti-monarchists in Quebec
have vowed to disrupt the royals' public events in the mostly
French-speaking province.
Moore noted that the role of the monarchy in Canada has always been a
subject of fierce debate, pitting monarchists against republicans, but
he asked protestors to "be respectful."
"I know that there are many people across Canada as well as in Quebec
who will be very excited to see the duke and duchess here in Canada," he
added. AFP
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