The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate took in the Calgary Stampede Parade on their final day in Canada, bidding a fond farewell to the country before departing that evening.
“Canada has far surpassed all that we were promised. Our promise to Canada is that we shall return,” Prince William said in his final speech in the country.
“Canada has extraordinary potential. With its natural resources, thriving economy, and rich human capital, it will surely be one of the great countries of the 21st century,” said William.
The royal couple spent the day in traditional Calgary Stampede attire, the iconic white cowboy hat bestowed on dignitaries and hounor guests to the city, along with jeans and cowboy boots.
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The couple was greeted at the Calgary airport by six-year-old Diamond Marshall, diagnosed with stage-four undifferentiated sarcoma. Her wish, made through the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, was to meet a real princess.
William and Kate travelled the parade route for several blocks in a motorcade and then joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the start of the route to push a big red button and launch a cascade of ticker tape to start the stampede.
The couple have since landed in Los Angeles to begin a weekend there after having earned their places in the hearts of Canadians.
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