No Yukon visit for Prince George, Princess Charlotte
Young royals won't join parents Will and Kate on Yukon sojourn next week
Forget about that selfie with young Prince George. In fact, forget about any selfie with the royals next week in Yukon.
"Turning your back to the Duke and Duchess [of Cambridge] and taking a selfie is discouraged if at all possible," said Jennifer Gehmair, with the Yukon government's tourism department.
"I know it's fun to do, but they much would rather see your face!"
The territorial government has released a few more details about Prince William and Kate's upcoming visit to Whitehorse and Carcross, including this disappointing fact for royal-watchers — they're not bringing the kids.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte are travelling to B.C. with their parents, but no further.
"At this point, they're not coming to Yukon," said Kate Durand, a communications advisor with the territorial government.
Where to see Will and Kate
The royal visit to Yukon will be relatively short — a little more than a day, from Sept. 27 to 28 — but there's a lot on the agenda, including community festivals in Whitehorse and Carcross, visits to the MacBride Museum and Montana Mountain, and even a drop-in at a carving shed in Carcross.
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Not all events will be open to the public, but Gehmair said it shouldn't be hard to spot the royals out and about, especially at the community festival in Whitehorse.
In Whitehorse, after visiting the MacBride Museum on the morning of Sept. 28, Will and Kate will stroll along Front Street, then up Main Street to the corner of Second Avenue.
Along the way, they'll see a variety of cultural displays and meet some young artists. Gehmair said the Duke and Duchess will remain within a "secured area," but it may be the best place for the public to see them.
"There will be plenty of opportunities along those areas to have a good view, and possibly even engage with the Duke and Duchess," she said.
She's encouraging people to be downtown by 8:30 a.m., giving themselves plenty of time to arrive. She's encouraging people to carpool, if possible, to avoid parking nightmares downtown.
Events in Carcross
Later that day, in Carcross, the royals will attend a private event at the Carcross Commons, hosted by the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. The public may have an opportunity to see them as they arrive and leave that event. The public can also see the couple as cross the footbridge along Bennett Lake.
The First Nation will also host a community festival to celebrate the visit, featuring a First Nations' artists market, bannock and tea, and live entertainment through the day.
Will and Kate will also see a mountain biking demonstration on Montana Mountain, but that event will not be open to the public. Access roads to the mountain will be closed for the day, Durand said.
People are encouraged to be in Carcross by 10:30 a.m. if they want a chance to spot the royals, but are urged not to rush there from the earlier Whitehorse events.
"We're really encouraging people to choose one event or the other," Durand said.
The territorial government says it will release maps in the coming days, showing where the royals will be, and where the public will have an opportunity to see them.
With files from Sandi Coleman