
The Duchess of Cambridge pulled out all the fashion stops in an eye-catching designer dress as she joined Prince William in Vancouver on day two of the royal tour of Canada.

In a nod to the nation's flag, Kate chose a £4,000 red and white Alexander McQueen frock for her first full day of public engagements.

The couple were met by thousands of well-wishers as they stepped off a seaplane from Victoria, where they had left Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte with their nanny.

But the royal couple were still bombarded with toys for the children, with the Duke coming away from the Vancouver Police Department with two bags full of toys, including a police dog called Spike for Charlotte and a toy police car for George.

Thanking them for the gifts, Prince William responded: 'They'll be playing with these all afternoon'.

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Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, left, join the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they watch children play in a sandbox at the Immigrant Services Society in Vancouver on the second day of their tour of Canada

In a nod to the nation's flag, Kate opted for a £4,000 red and white Alexander McQueen frock for her first full day of public engagements. Pictured, the duchess arrives at the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station on Sunday afternoon, left, with Mr Trudeau

William and Kate receive teddy bears from five-year-old Hailey Cain at the Sheway centre in Vancouver, which provides health and social service support to pregnant women and new mothers who are dealing with drug and alcohol issues

William shared a tender moment with three-month-old Jasmine Hydrochuk and her mother Cameo, 28, at the centre

Kate is presented with personalised jackets for Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station

The Duchess of Cambridge received gifts and flowers from well-wishers as she arrived in Vancouver this morning

William and Kate waved to waiting crowds after touching down in Vancouver harbour on a seaplane

During the first day of the tour, the Duke and Duchess joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau to meet Canadians from all walks of life, including some of the nation's young leaders.

Their last stop was a newly-reopened Coast Guard station, which the couple toured before returning to Victoria to see their children.

The couple were greeted by cheering crowds as they touched down in the harbour in the heart of Vancouver, with the 35-minute journey from Victoria offering the couple stunning views of the British Columbia coastline.

A royal aide said the pair spent 'a lot of time looking out of the window and talking to the pilot', adding that Prince William was 'very interested in the landing and the different conditions they work in'.

They were greeted on the dock by Christy Clark, the premier of British Columbia, before meeting with some of the thousands of well-wishers who had packed into nearby Jack Poole Plaza.

Crowds stood 10-deep behind the barriers, holding cameras and phones aloft in the hope of snapping a picture of the royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke as they arrived at the Immigrant Services Society on Sunday

The Duchess of Cambridge was joined by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau as she visited a Coast Guard station

Kate, who travels with a £300-a-day hairdresser, styled her brunette locks in loose curls for day two of the tour

Mrs Gregoire Trudeau opted for a conservative burgundy dress, left, while Kate dazzled in red and white

DAY TWO: KATE OPTS FOR EMBROIDERED MCQUEEN For her second outfit of the tour, Kate chose a striking embroidered £4,000 dress from Alexander McQueen. She wore the eye-catching creation as she and Wills took a sea plane to Vancouver, leaving their children in Victoria to recover from the long journey. The dress – in the colours of the Canadian flag – is a modified version of a design from the Spring/Summer 2017 Resort Collection. It is a perfect example of one of this season's hottest trends – Folk. The Duchess is a style icon but a conservative one. With this she's showing her versatility – Kate can also carry off a look that's up to the minute as well as sophisticated. It was a bold, brave decision but she pulled it off with panache. She also cleverly kept her accessories to a minimum with no hat, brooch or elaborate earring but she did make one mistake. It's hard to criticise Kate but the coordinating bag and shoes are a styling faux pas, and make the outfit look more like a costume than a couture creation. Advertisement

Wolf whistles and cries of excitement filled the air as people thrust flowers, toys, children's books and even a book on the royal family at the duke and duchess.

One person was even heard to shout at the duchess 'you're so pretty', prompting a grin and a wave from Kate.

The royal, 34, looked effortlessly stylish in the ruffled McQueen dress, which she paired with red pumps and a clutch bag.

The very public welcome would 'allow The Duke and Duchess to get an immediate sense of Vancouver's energy and dynamism', a Kensington Palace spokesman said.

The Duchess of Cambridge brought a personal touch to her visit to the Immigration Services Society

The visiting dignitaries looked delighted as they watched children play in a sandbox at the centre in Vancouver

At the centre, William and Kate spent time with Syrian refugee Yosra Alamahameed and daughter Reemus

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met with young people and refugees who benefit from the charity's services

The couple unveiled a plaque commemorating their visit to the Immigration Services Society as the Trudeaus look on

Prime minister Justin Trudeau, third from left, and his wife Sophie join the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the centre

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, right, speaks animatedly with Prince William and her husband as they leave the centre

The Duchess of Cambridge waved to supporters who had lined the path on the way out from the charity

William and Kate looked in good spirits as they spoke with the Trudeaus, right, outside the Immigrant Services Society

William and Kate shared a light-hearted moment with the Trudeaus as they arrived at the Immigrant Services Society

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau arrive to the Immigrant Services Society

ANTI-ROYALIST PROTESTERS BRANDISH MAKESHIFT GUILLOTINE Anti-Royalist protesters waved banners emblazoned with 'No Kings' and brandished a 'guillotine' as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Vancouver today. The demonstrators formed part of the crowd which gathered outside the Immigration Services Society in British Columbia for day two of the Canadian tour. One is believed to have shouted 'we should not celebrate the royals', while brandishing a makeshift mock 'guillotine' made from boards of wood and tinfoil. Others masked their faces with hooded tops and scarves pulled up to their eyes. Anti-Royalist protesters waved banners emblazoned with 'No Kings' and brandished a 'guillotine' at the centre Advertisement

The first stop for the royals was 'Sheway', a charity helping vulnerable mothers and pregnant women battling with addiction and other issues.

Kate was understood to have been particularly keen to see the work of Sheway as the link between addiction and family breakdown has been a focus of her recent charity work.

Ron Abrahams, a physician who works with Sheway, told William how the centre was modeled on the Women's Reproductive Maternity Service in Glasgow, which was opened by Princess Diana in 1990.

Mr Abrahams added: 'It's wonderful to have you here after all the work your mother did in this field. It's like full circle for us with your family.'

Prince William and Kate both commented on how well behaved three-month-old Jasmine was at the Sheway charity

Kate smiled as she leaned over to meet the little girl, left. She later received a teddy bear from a schoolgirl at the centre

Five-year-old Hailey Cain gave William and Kate teddy bears for them to pass on to Prince George and Princess Charlotte

Prince William smiled as he held up his teddy bear, telling Hailey that George is a 'big fan' of the toys

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her hair in loose curls for her first full day of royal engagements in Canada

The royal visitors spent time speaking with staff at Sheway, where they learned about the pregnancy outreach programme

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge applaud after being treated to a song by a native performer at the centre

During the visit William and Kate were given personalised teddy bears by Hailey Cain, five, who was taken into care as a baby due to her mother's battles with substance and alcohol abuse.

Her mother, Mary Lynn, has since been able to overcome her problems with the help of Sheway and now lives with Hailey and her other daughter Riley, who is nine weeks old.

Receiving the teddy bear, Kate told Hailey: 'I love your dress, it's so pretty. Thank you so much, Charlotte will love this, she loves her teddies.'

William added: 'George too, he's a big fan, thank you so much.' He later told a group of toddlers taking part in a craft session: 'You're all such well behaved children. I'm so impressed!'

William and Mr Trudeau with the Canadian women's rugby team at a reception honouring the nation's young leaders

The duchess spent time speaking with young people from a number of different groups across Canada

The duke and duchess were the guests of honour at a reception celebrating young Canadian leaders

Prince William speaks to members of the women's rugby team, who beat Team GB to take third place in Rio

The Royal visitors were joined by the prime minister, left, at the event recognising the achievements of young people

The couple later met three-month-old Jasmine Hydrochuk, whose mother, Cameo, 28, has battled with substance abuse for several years but is now clean thanks to the programmes run by Sheway.

Leaning over to wave at Jasmine, William said: 'Look at you, all dressed up. Aren't you doing well, with all this attention.'

Kate told her mother: 'She is so incredibly sweet and I can't believe how good she is. Whenever we used to put George or Charlotte on the scales, they would never stay still.'

When asked about her children, Kate said: 'They're doing well,' said Kate. 'I just can't believe how quickly they're growing, it's amazing how the time goes.'

The duchess was given personalised life jackets for Prince George and Princess Charlotte by the coast guard

The children's jackets have 'George' and 'Charlotte' sewn on to name tags. They will be gifted to the young royals

William pets Vancouver Police service dog Griffin as he meets his handler Constable Geoff Goodall at the station

Prime minister Trudeau and the Duchess of Cambridge are told about the work of the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station

Kate was accompanied by Mr Trudeau as she visited the station in Vancouver before returning to her children in Victoria

The Duke of Cambridge speaks with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau as they meet members of North Shore Search and Rescue

Crowds of cheering supporters gathered at the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station to see the visiting dignitaries

Mr Trudeau, right, waves at the well-wishers as the Duchess of Cambridge accepts flowers from the crowd

The Duke of Cambridge meets members of the Vancouver Fire Department during a visit to the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station

Holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand, Kate meets well-wishers during the visit to the Coast Guard station on Sunday

Mr Trudeau, Prince William, Mrs Gregoire Trudeau and the Duchess of Cambridge take a walk at the Coast Guard station

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile as they step on board a hovercraft alongside Mr Trudeau

The royals were taken for a spin on a hovercraft, pictured, during their visit to the station - their final engagement of the day

Prime minister Trudeau waves from the window of the hovercraft as hundreds gather to watch from the shoreline

The couple were met by the prime minister and his wife as they arrived at the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia. Both couples seemed in good spirits as they chatted briefly outside the centre.

There they met staff and volunteers who support over 25,000 migrants to Canada each year, including some of the 30,000 who have recently fled war-torn Syria.

They also spoke to Alaa Al Mahameed, 36, and wife Yosra, 35, who came to Canada with their daughters Reemas, 3, and Reetaj, 2, in August and immediately received support and assistance from the organisation.

The family, who fled Syria in 2012 and struggled to start a new life in Jordan, are one of the first to live in the organisations's onsite temporary housing.

Prince William offered a helping hand to his wife as she stepped off the seaplane in teetering red stilettos

The Royal couple spent much of their time on the 35-minute flight admiring the stunning views over the Georgia Strait

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked in awe at the natural beauty of Vancouver as they touched down yesterday

The couple chatted as they walked along the dock, with Kate showing off her enviable legs in a red and white dress

The Duchess of Cambridge spent time chatting with some of the people who had spent hours waiting to welcome the royals

Showing off her flair for fashion in a red and white dress, Kate looked beautiful as she and William arrived in Vancouver

Kate carries a soft toy in one hand as she leans down to admire a flower being offered to her by one Canadian supporter

Cheering crowds waited for hours in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Duchess of Cambridge, pictured centre

Chrissy Clark, the Premier of British Columbia, was on hand to meet the couple as they arrived in Vancouver

With the help of a translator, Kate asked: 'Has it been difficult with young children?' Mrs Al Mahameed replied: 'We feel safe here. Much more safe.'

The Cambridges enjoyed a private lunch with the Trudeaus before attending a reception for young Canadian leaders.

Splitting up to mingle, they were introduced to groups of young people including Junior Canadian Rangers and members of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams.

William chatted to the women's rugby team, who beat England to the bronze medal in Rio and were proudly wearing their medals.

The royal couple were met by British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, far right, as they arrived in the centre of Vancouver

The Cambridges left their children, Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte, in Victoria with their nanny

The Royal couple were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers as they arrived in the city on day two of their eight-day tour

One of the captains Ghislaine Landry, 25, from Toronto, said: 'I think beating Great Britain in the bronze was maybe a little too much for him so that was the main joke of the conversation.

'But Olympic medals are pretty hard to come by and he obviously recognised the work and the time that went into that.'

The final engagement of the day saw the Duke and Duchess, Prime Minister and Mrs Gregoire Trudeau learn more about the city's emergency services.

They visited the Kitsilano Coastguard Station in Vanier park and learn about the round the clock operation to support people who come into trouble on the water that surrounds the coastal city.

The Duke, a former search and rescue pilot, shared his experiences with fellow first responders, as the royals helped to highlight the impact of dangerous rescues on mental health.

Raising questions about 'macho culture', he and the Duchess went on inspect the latest technology available to Canadian fire, police and coastguard services.

Prince George, his father said, would be 'obsessed' with some of the high-tech equipment on show.

The couple went away laden with gifts for their two children, who remained at home in Government House for the day.

Emerging from their convoy to cheers, the Duke and Duchess met with representatives of the emergency services, first response units and politicians.

In a small meeting room in the coastguard station, the Royal couple sat with Mr and Mrs Trudeau at the head of a horseshoe table laden with tea, macaroni and Bakewell tarts.

Kate looked elegant in the Alexander McQueen dress, which she paired with red pumps and a red clutch bag

The couple, pictured arriving, will carry out a series of engagements in the city alongside the prime minister and his wife

After being photographed in royal blue yesterday, Kate opted for an ensemble in the colours of Canada's flag for day two

The couple looked solemn as they heard from Catherine Blewett, deputy minister for fisheries and oceans, who told them how 'really disturbing' rescue missions had a 'profound impact on mental health'.

Marsha McCall, programme manager for the critical incident stress programme, who was in the meeting, said of the Duke: 'He was particularly interested about stigma and the macho culture, and whether it is changing.

'Princess Kate asked us more about the support for families dealing with the same kind of things.

'He was clearly very knowledgable. You know you are talking to one of the guys. He was genuine, he really cared.'

After finishing the formal meeting, the quartet joined the waiting crowds in Vanier Park, with the Duchess and Sophie Trudeau walking slightly behind their husbands over white gravel paths in their stilettos.

They then separated into two pairs, to meet representatives of the Canadian emergency services.

The Duke, who walked with Mrs Trudeau, admired the equipment displayed by Vancouver Fire and Rescue and North Shore Rescue.

'My son George would be obsessed with that,' he disclosed, pointing at the fire service's new state-of-the-art truck.

The vehicle is designed as a technical rescue unit, with equipment for extrication, lifting, cutting, moving into confined spaces and technical rescue.

He also discussed a rescue stretcher and winch system with the rescue service, which he proclaimed 'incredible' and said he had not had in the UK.

The Duchess of Cambridge pulled out all the stops on the second day of her tour to Canada in an eye-catching designer dress (left). The couple waved to waiting photographers as they boarded a sea plane from Victoria to Vancouver yesterday, right

William and Kate are escorted to the sea plane terminal in Victoria Harbour as they board a flight to Vancouver on Sunday

The Royal couple looked relaxed as they waved to well-wishers before they boarded the light aircraft

A sea plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is seen touching down in the harbour in Vancouver, Canada

It differed from the equipment he used during his own job as a search and rescue pilot, allowing up to five members of rescue staff to travel underneath a helicopter on a line alongside the patient they are treating.

'He isn't used to that type of operation so he was really interested in hearing about it,' added Jeff Yarnold, North Shore Rescue search manager.

Referring to mental health issues arising from rescues, the Duke told staff: 'I'm so glad your services take it so seriously.'

He nodded as Mrs Trudeau said: 'Awkward conversation is better than silence.'

The Duke was then introduced to Griffin, a German shepherd working with the Vancouver police department.

Inspiring a chorus of 'awws' from the watching crowd, he bent over to pet and praise the dog.

'He's a good dog,' his handler said. 'I bet he is,' said the Duke, going on to ask questions about how long it's training took and whether it wore a body camera.

Moments later, as the royals went to greet members of the public, he made a beeline for a one-year-old Maltese dog named Snoopy to make a fuss of him too.

The Duchess, walking down the other side of tents, was given two tiny orange customised life jackets for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

She was gifted numerous books for the children, including a Canadian ABC, a compilation of British Columbia lullabies and A Hero Lives in my Family, a story for the children of First Responders to help them understand their parent's stressful job.

The two children were also given an enormous stuffed Dalmatian dog.

Kim Carter, executive assistant to the chief constable at Vancouver Police Department, gave the Duke two party bags containing gifts for his children.

Princess Charlotte received a small police dog named Spike, while Prince George was given a toy police car.

'They'll be playing with these all afternoon,' the Duke told her.

Joe Acker, director of patient care delivery for BC Emergency Health Services, said: 'Her Royal Highness really understood the geography of Canada, how massive it is and how challenging to move around.

'She asked several questions about working together [with other agencies]. It was very insightful on her part.'

Cameron Knight, from the Canadian coast guard said: 'She was interested in the types of diving we do with the coast guard.

'She was interested in why people dive here and the quality of diving compared to other parts of the world.'

The Duchess then joined her husband in meeting the public, accepting bouquets of flowers and asking visitors where they had travelled from.

Having begun the day arriving by seaplane, the couple made an equally dramatic exit: after a short demonstration of how to put on an inflatable life jacket, the Duke and Duchess waved to the crowd before departing by hovercraft.