By The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER - Royalty is set to arrive in British Columbia in September before visits to Saskatchewan and Ontario.
The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and his wife, the Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones, are scheduled to tour B.C. between Sept. 12 and 16.
They will participate in various activities in Victoria, Vancouver and Kelowna, as well as visit the Ditidaht and 'Namgis First Nations on Vancouver Island.
Highlights of the visit include presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh gold awards in Victoria and Kelowna, and a walk on a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail through North Vancouver.
The royal couple will also open a new library on the Ditidaht First Nation near Duncan, and travel to the 'Namgis First Nation in Alert Bay for a range of community events.
Following the B.C. program, the earl visits Saskatchewan between Sept. 17 and 19, while the countess travels to northern Ontario.