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Yellowknife's royal afterglow

Heather Lange
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 15, 2011

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has left a lasting impression with Yellowknifers after their visit to the capital city July 4 to 6 as part of the couple's first international tour since their April nuptials.

NNSL photo/graphic

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine Middleton visit the Somba K'e Civic Plaza on July 5. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

The Cooper sisters, Merrill, Margo and Meghan, were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while they took part in a heartfelt talk with Prince William in a tour of the Garden of Hope near city hall on July 5.

The memorial garden is in honour of Loraine Minish-Cooper, their mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2002.

"He said he was sorry to hear that. He said he knew what is was like to lose your mom at an early age, then he asked used if we take care of each other. He seemed to understand just the implications of that," said Meghan.

A tour of the garden was not originally part of the day's itinerary for the royal couple.

"They were actually not supposed to go in to the garden. They asked to do that. So once we were in the garden, our conversations became a little more relaxed."

Catherine Middleton also asked some questions to Meghan about the kinds of flowers in the garden and seemed to have an interest in gardening.

For the sisters, the chance to speak personally with the duke and duchess was way beyond their expectations.

"Just in terms of the kind of interaction you hope to have with them, it was a personal interaction so that, of course, was very special to us. They were really, really warm, understanding, very personable and very sincere and really easy to talk to," said Meghan.

Spectators on city hall grounds observed Mayor Gord Van Tighem talking to the duchess on stage during the July 5 official welcoming.

"Mostly I was talking about the city and who lives here and pointing out the different ethnic origins of people in the crowd. Her response was that it was much more of a cosmopolitan city than she had envisioned. She was hoping they could come back in the winter time. She was more into wearing the big boots and the big fluffy jackets, all about the clothes you know," said Van Tighem with a laugh.

Van Tighem said he was proud of the conduct of city residents and felt the royal couple has ushered in a new era for the monarchy.

"During the walkabout, everyone that spoke, spoke positively. Everybody that passed on a sentiment, was strong and heartfelt ... The overall feeling that came from the total tour was it was a different royal attitude, much more open and engaging," said Van Tighem.

The mayor said he also notice how attentive Prince William was to his bride, Catherine.

"He kept checking with her or checking on her. They were very much a partnership going through things," said Van Tighem.

Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy met the Duke of Cambridge after the youth parliamentarians debated in the legislative assembly.

"He was most interested in what the youth had to say during their discussions and about education in the North and difficulties with education in the North," said Abernethy.

He described Prince William as informed and genuinely interested, saying he took a few minutes to speak and ask questions to the people he encountered.

"It wasn't just a shake your hand and then move on. He actually asked some interesting and pointed questions which, honestly, I wasn't really anticipating. With the amount of people he had to meet that day, taking a little bit of extra time to ask specific questions and not be overwhelmed ... I was very impressed," said Abernethy.

Julie Warnock, communications co-ordinator for NWT Tourism, helped with the planning of the royal visit and spoke with the duke and duchess shortly after they landed in Yellowknife on a rainy July 4.

"They were very happy to be here. They had just come from their flight from P.E.I. They were very personable and looking forward to the visit. I told them I hoped they got better weather when they were out around the city and at Blachford (Lake Lodge). They apologized for bringing the bad weather from P.E.I. They were very cute," said Warnock.

Gone but not forgotten, the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will live on in the hearts and minds of Yellowknifers and one day perhaps the city can roll out the red carpet once again, this time in winter.

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