Une Visite Royale à Québec - a connection between RWC French and British Study Abroad Programs!

Today the British once again capture Québec! I saw William and Kate from a not so distant view and it was quite exciting. Sophie and I stood from our vantage point atop the fortified walls of the Lévis Fort across the river from Old Québec. I must admit that I got carried away by emotion when I saw the procession of 8 black BMWs climb up the hill towards a cheering crowd. They entered Fort No. 1, which is the first strategic fort built by the British in 1865-1872 to defend Canada against attacks from the United States. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were then led into an official circle where they did their famous royal "walkabout" which consists of William going in one direction, and Kate in the opposite to shake as many hands and smile at as many people as possible in the short 20 minutes they were there. They then come back together for official photographs, a presentation of flowers and a final wave to the cheering crowds before getting back into their car and whisked away to the airport to fly to Charlottetown, PEI where they will be spending two days and visiting Anne of Green Gables' house and setting of the books which are apparently one of Kate's favourites. They finish their whirlwind Canadian tour in Calgary, Alberta - a mere 3 hours north of where I just moved from - to help Albertans celebrate the annual Calgary Stampede.

Fort No. 1 has been restored and is now a National Historic Site of Canada known as Lévis Forts National Historic Site. This site, together with la Citadelle honour the English Canadian regiments in Québec and their history in this region of Canada. This was a good place for a royal visit and the people around me were very much in favour of this couple.

The royal couple had first made their appearance in this province by visiting Montréal yesterday. They then travelled down the St. Lawrence to Québec City overnight in the Canadian Navy Ship - the HMCS Montreal. This morning they were downtown at the City Hall - l'Hôtel de Ville and to a children's hospital. After a short break, they arrived in Lévis in mid-afternoon.

Despite concerns about anti-royal demonstrations, the events went off without a hitch and only a few protesters at the downtown event who were kept at bay and only seen later on the evening news.

Ah yes, Britain has once again "won" Québec, at least for today.