Fun-packed royal tours to the land of the maple leaf

Prince William and Kate first visited Canada just three months after their royal wedding.

The couple really enjoyed their visit and Prince William promised that he and his wife Kate "shall return".

"Canada has far surpassed all that we were promised," the Duke of Cambridge said, sporting a white cowboy hat, western shirt and blue jeans.

With Kate at his side, who was also draped head-to-toe in western clothing, William said the couple's week throughout Canada "exceeded all our expectations".

Keeping with their promise, the couple will tour Canada once again in September, hopefully accompanied this time by their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Canada is a favourite destination for the royal family. The Queen has been there 22 times, making it the Commonwealth country that has hosted her most often.

In this picture, the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, was photographed letting loose with Prince Philip at a square dance held in their honour in Ottawa.

The image was taken during their first visit to Canada in 1951. And such is the affection felt towards the monarchy in much of the country that subsequent tours have nearly always given rise to similar pictures of gaiety.

The Prince of Wales has visited the country on 15 occasions. He and Princess Diana went there twice during their marriage, on the second occasion taking William and Harry. This time the family visited Ontario, Ottawa, Sudbury, Kingston and Niagara Falls.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana meeting the crowd in 1985.

Meeting First Nations representatives at the 1986 Expo Exhibition in Vancouver.

Prince William and Prince Harry first visited Canada in 1991. Pictured here with mum Princess Diana at Niagara Falls.

No one in Vancouver can forget Prince Charles' poignant return just months after Diana's death, when he spent time with his sons in the Whistler mountain resort.

The heir to the throne has since been back with the Duchess of Cornwall.

Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York made history, gamely dressing up in historic costume, rowing through the Thelon River and visiting The Giant Mine in Yellowknife.

Pictured here travelling back in time at Fort Edmonton.         

Wearing stetsons and cowboy outfits for a visit to the city of Medicine Hat.

The couple at Niagara Falls.