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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A tunnel of umbrellas wavered under the grey Yellowknife sky as the door to the Canadian Air Force plane opened and Prince William and Catherine Middleton emerged, making their way down the stairs to the puddled ground with their own umbrellas in hand.

Great Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, applaud Northern athletes as they demonstrate Arctic sports at Somba K'e Civic Plaza Tuesday afternoon. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the NWT a little after 7:30 p.m. Monday and spent a few minutes shaking hands before entering a SUV and heading off to spend their first night of two nights at the Explorer Hotel.

Premier Floyd Roland, federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem and chiefs Ed Sangris and Ted Tsetta were on hand to greet the royal couple as they made their way down the line from the plane.

At the end of a tunnel of umbrellas stood a little girl in pink. Amelie Wood, 8, held soft pink flowers to give to the Duchess.

"I was thinking about how she would like to see and have the flowers. I was nervous and excited," said Wood.

A little gentleman stood by her side with flowers for the Duchess as well.

"I was a bit scared and nervous but then I got to it and I wasn't nervous," said eight-year-old Marco Paolo Esteban of his royal duty.

The couple then hopped into a grey Ford SUV and made their way to the crowds outside the Yellowknife Airport.

The prince and his bride rolled down their windows to wave to the hundreds of people as they were whisked to downtown Yellowknife.

Bernadette Christie and her husband, Bruce, rode the highway from Grande Prairie to Yellowknife over the past few days especially for the occasion, marking their first time in the territory.

Christie is more than a little smitten with the royal couple.

"I was at the wedding in April. I camped outside of Westminster Abbey for three nights," she said, holding two laminated pictures of the couple on their wedding day that she took herself.

"They're awesome. They put on the best weddings in the world."

Christie said she cried when she saw the Duke and Duchess drive by Monday night and believes the young couple is changing the way Canadian perceive the monarchy.

"I've been so excited all day. Kate and Will are for this generation. He's Diana's son. We all loved her," she said.

"Kate's beautiful, she's elegant, she's all a lady. Now we love her too."

After a busy day in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I. Monday, the Duke and Duchess will continue shaking hands with the public and immersing themselves in events in Yellowknife on Tuesday. The official welcoming ceremonies get underway at 11:40 a.m. at Somba K'e Civic Plaza including drum dancing, Arctic games and a game of hockey before the pair go to the legislative assembly to observe the youth parliamentarians debate.

Prince William and Kate will then take a Twin Otter from Old Town to Blachford Lake Lodge to see demonstrations from Canadian Rangers and participate in portions of the Dechinta program.

Christie said she is all set for tomorrow's festivities.

"I've already stalked my spot," she said.

Although she said she was told she was unable to camp outside city hall, Christie said she will be getting up early to ensure she's front and centre when the couple make their official first public appearance in Yellowknife.

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