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Kate back in dragon boat for a face-off with William in Canada

22 JUNE 2011

It was a pivotal moment in their relationship.

Following her brief split with Prince William in 2007, Kate Middleton, as she was then, joined an all-female dragonboat crew that was preparing to row across the Channel.

But when the royal saw the photos of the brunette beauty steering the boat, he must have realised what he was missing, as their relationship was soon back on track.

 

 

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Now, the newlyweds will be repeating history, only this time William will be on the water as well.

Their private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, has revealed that, as part of their official North American tour, the royal couple will be taking part in a race against each other across a lake on Canada’s Prince Edward Island.

“Their Royal Highnesses will team up with Dragonboat racers, taking a boat each – although I hasten to add, not themselves paddling, though probably steering – and they will race across the lake to the opposite bank where crowds will be gathered,” he said.

“After congratulating the winning team, the couple will be welcomed by First Nations people with a traditional “smudging” ceremony.”

The royals will then sample some local delicacies, which are said to include raspberry cordial, chocolate covered potato crisps and Prince Edward Island’s famous lobster.

 

 

From there, the pair will head to the beach, where “young people will be engaged in a range of beach sports, and the couple will start one of the games and present prizes to the winners of various competitions”.

It will then be briefly back to work for William, a search and rescue pilot, who will participate in a Canadian Air Force demonstration at a nearby lake.

“The Canadian Search and Rescue Force is the only one in the world to undertake ‘Waterbirding’, a technique whereby a Sea King helicopter makes a controlled landing on water,” Jamie said.

After their Canada visit, William and Kate will head to California.

William and Kate Royal Tour of Canada and US 2011

• June 30 - July 2: The National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario, Gatineau) - The royal couple will take part in Canada Day celebrations on Ottawa Hill on July 1
• July 2: Montreal - They will be at the last day of the Montreal Jazz Festival
• July 3: Quebec City
• July 3-4: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - The Duke and Duchess will take part in a boatrace against each other. They will sample local delicacies before William participates in a Canadian Air Force demonstration.
• July 4: Summerside, Prince Edward Island
• July 4-6: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
• July 6-8: Calgary, Alberta - The pair will attend the opening of the Calgary Stampede on July 8 and will have the chance to see bucking broncos
• July 8: Los Angeles, United States - The newlyweds will be the guests of honour at a Consular-General Reception held by United Kingdom Trade and Investment
• July 9: Los Angeles - William will play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in a charity match and the Duchess will present the winners’ trophy. That evening they will attend a BAFTAs dinner
• July 10: Los Angeles - They will visit the Inner-City Arts School project for disadvantage youngsters before attending a job fair aimed at ex-servicemen
• July 10: Los Angeles - Flight back to the UK.