Prince William and Kate's visit to Bella Bella wrecked by bad weather

Royal visit: Prince William and Kate wave to the crowd at Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
Robert Jobson27 September 2016

It was supposed to be one of the top photo opportunities of Prince William and Kate's tour of Canada.

But the royal couple's trip later today to the remote First Nations island community of Bella Bella in British Columbia has been wrecked by bad weather including high winds, choppy seas and heavy, driving rain.

As a result, some of their planned activities have had to be scrapped.

Most notably they include a float plane tour of the area the couple had been hugely looking forward to - but aides said they were still determined to go ahead with their visit to the village in the Great Bear Rainforest, a 21 million acre wilderness known as the Amazon of the North.

A spokesman for the couple said:"It is still a beautiful place in the rain and everyone is prepared to get wet.

Kate and William arrive in Vancouver

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"The weather forecast has meant that we have unfortunately had to make the call to cancel the float plane tour of the rainforest.

Their Royal Highnesses will instead arrive at the Bella Bella breakwater by boat.

"Hopefully the rest of their programme will remain unchanged," the spokesman added.

The Great Bear Rainforest, which stretches over 250 miles along the central and north coast of British Columbia, is the planet's largest intact temperate rainforest.

It is the only place in the world where you can see the Kermode - or Spirit - bear which is noted for its white fur.

The Kermode bear is considered sacred by the T'simshian people.

Other wildlife includes coastal grey wolves, grizzly bears, Cougars and orcas,

William and Kate, who are taking a private jet to visit the island community from their base in Victoria, about an hour-and-a-half away by air, are said by aides to be 'hugely excited' about the visit.

They will be greeted with a traditional welcoming ceremony and a cultural sharing ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community and Bella Bella Community School on the island's jetty.

The Royal visitors will also see one of the new walking trails being built in the area before departing by boat and returning to Victoria.

Later tonight they will attend a reception hosted by the province of British Columbia at Government House back in Victoria.

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