Kate and Wills praise Canada for warmth and hospitality they experienced as a family on final day of royal tour
Prince William said they felt "very lucky" to have introduced their royal children to Canada
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have praised Canada for leaving them with "happy memories" for the family as their tour came to an end today.
Prince William said they felt "very lucky" to have introduced their royal children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who stole the spotlight, during their first official overseas trip as a family of four.
The Duke said he and Kate were "incredibly grateful" to the people of Canada for the warmth and hospitality they had experienced as a family.
He added: "We have loved our time in British Columbia and Yukon and will never forget the beautiful places we have seen and the many people who have been kind enough to come to welcome us in person.
"We feel very lucky to have been able to introduce George and Charlotte to Canada. This country will play a big part in the lives of our children and we have created such happy memories for our family during this visit.
"Canada is a country of optimism, generosity and unrivalled natural beauty. I hope we have helped all Canadians celebrate what makes this country great. We will see you again soon."
On their last day in Canada, the Duchess of Cambridge showed off her sailing credentials when she took the wheel of a tall ship and helped steer her in to harbour.
Kate looked at ease when she took charge of Pacific Grace, a wooden-hulled gaff-rigged schooner, operated by a Canadian charity that uses the experience of sailing to help develop life skills in young people.
She had offered the wheel to William but when he said "ladies first" the Duchess took control and "bossed it", captain Tony Anderson, 52, said.
Kate crewed on a Round the World Challenge boat during her gap year but has publicly been supporting the nation's America's Cup bid led by Sir Ben Ainslie.
She is also Royal Patron of the 1851 Trust, a charity dedicated to inspiring a new generation to enter sailing and the marine industry.
The pair boarded the ship, run by Sail and Life Training Society (Salts), in Victoria harbour and the pair helped out with hauling the rigging joining a group of young people.
Wills and Kate began the final day of their eight-day tour in Canada by visiting the Cridge Centre for the Family - one of Victoria's most well-known charitable institutions.
Kate wore a white fitted blazer and black trousers by Zara as she received a warm welcome from the dozens of well-wishers who had gathered outside the centre.
The centre provides a range of services, including childcare, youth outreach, and support for women who have experienced domestic violence.
The royal couple arrived just after 10am local time and were greeted by the Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark, lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Judith Guichon, Cridge Centre's CEO Shelley Morris and President Val Fuller.
When they arrived, William joked about the fishing trip yesterday in Haida Gwaii.
He told British Columbia premier Christy Clark at the Cridge centre: "We didn't catch anything! It's typical whenever we go anywhere All the best laid plans go to pot.
"That salmon was the biggest fish I've seen! It was a great day though."
The pair met a number of young and old people who have benefited from the centre's schemes including women's and family services, senior services, brain injury services and the young parent outreach programme.
Kate, 34, chatted to Zola Auld, a 20 year-old with Down's Syndrome.
"Kate asked me what I like to do and I told her cooking' said Zola. "She asked me what I like and I said Italian like pizza and pasta and she said George loves that."
Zola's mum, Anne Auld, said the centre had provided invaluable support to them as a family adding "It's been a dream come true meeting the Duchess".
Wills and Kate then went outside where a band was playing to unveil the Overcomer's Monument dedicated to people who have overcome difficult circumstances
Around 300 clients, residents and beneficiaries of the programme had gathered to greet the couple and watch the unveiling.
Yesterday, the royal couple were seen to be having great fun with freshly caught crabs after pulling a crab trap during their visit to British Columbia.
Wills and Kate also set off into the remote First Nation reserve in unique style - paddling in a 25ft long war boat.
They paddled along with 10 rowers to the beat of a pacer's drum and were given a ceremonial welcome by locals in the remote islands of Haida Gwaii in western Canada.
Their fibreglass canoe was a replica of the traditional red cedar vessels used by the Haida Nation for centuries.
Accompanied by 10 warrior paddlers, three community leaders, and two Met cops, William and Kate - in a Smythe jacket, blouse by Somerset by Temperley, and Zara jeans - paddled for around 20 minutes from a jetty around to a beach and heritage centre at Skidegate on Graham Island, one of 150 islands in the chain.
Elder Guujaw, sitting in the middle of the boat, sang traditional canoe songs to help keep the royal couple and their fellow rowers in time with the drummer as they paddled around the coast.
Related Stories
The cedar and spruce-covered islands, home to 5,000 people, of whom about a third belong to the Haida Nation, lie 62 miles off the northwest coast of British Columbia, covering 3,930 square miles.
Haida Gwaii means "Islands of the People" and archaeological evidence suggests the area has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years.
The royal couple flew by helicopter onto Graham Island after travelling up from their base in Victoria on a military plane.
When they arrived at the jetty, they were greeted by three community leaders: canoe pacer Elder Guujaw, former president of the Haida Nation; Ms Lyndale George, a member of the Skidegate Band Council; and Ernie Gladstone, superintendent of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.