Arriving this Thursday (June 30) on the eve of Canada Day celebrations, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first official visit is fast approaching. Nothing has been left to chance for the nine day trip, reports the Globe and Mail.
Hotel staff began planning and organizing for the visit months ago. Calgary and Yellowknife are the only two cities where Prince William and his bride Catherine will not be staying at official residences.
The hotels in the two cities are keeping the bookings and preparations in utmost secrecy. While there is little doubt that the couple will stay at Calgary’s Fairmount Palliser, popular with the royal family, no representative will confirm the information.
Security protocol for a royal visit can mean booking an entire floor for the royals themselves and, setting aside rooms above and below them.
The planning process comes down to “months of consecutive meetings with government officials,” said Lori Coté, public relations representative for three Fairmont hotels in Alberta. Meetings include not only officials from Britain, but with the federal and the provincial governments, she added.
The couple’s Canadian itinerary starts in the national capital region, with stops with in Ottawa, Gatineau and Montreal from June 30 to July 2. On July 3, the couple travels to Quebec City, and onward to Summerside, PEI, for July 4. On July 8, the couple will attend the launch of the Calgary Stampede Parade in Alberta.