Little Scarlett Girard didn’t need the red carpet for her first meeting with royalty.
The six-month-old needed only her snuggly and mom’s warmth as Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, rounded the path to an awaiting car after she and Prince William were officially welcomed to Canada, and her Brentwood Bay mom, Monique Girard, stood.
“I just thought that was so awesome. I didn’t expect to be starstruck,” Monique said. “She asked how old (Scarlett is) and said ‘After this stage, it only gets better.’ Parenting tips? Sure, I’ll take that.”
William, meanwhile, greeted enthusiastic guests at the end of their red carpet welcome at the BC Legislature that included a 21-gun salute, the breaking of His Royal Highness’s Canadian Standard, and an inspection of the Guard of Honour.
“It was amazing. I can’t stop shaking,” said Loreen Topping of Saanich. “(Kate) said she was happy to visit B.C. She says it’s a beautiful place. She wished she’d brought the kids, especially George who would have loved the lights. It was amazing.”
Royal fans had filled the front rows of the seats along the red carpet on by noon on Saturday.
Eileen McCormack of Seattle said she knew the moment a Canadian Royal Tour was announced she wanted to take the trip no matter where they went.
“My husband thinks I’m absolutely insane,” McCormack said with a laugh. “Sitting here for five hours to maybe get a glimpse of the royals. He left a pair of binoculars on the table this morning.”
After the legislature event, the couple left for Government House, the family’s home base for the royal tour that will see them five communities in British Columbia – Victoria, Vancouver, Haida Gwai, Bella Bella, and Kelowna as well as two Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon.
