MONTREAL - Prince William and Kate continued their Canadian visit with a day in Quebec City following their brief stay in Montreal Saturday, where they faced the first protests against their trip to Canada.
The couple participated in the freedom-of-the-city military inspection early Sunday afternoon as the streets of the old city were lined with onlookers enraptured by the scene, which once again included young girls presenting bouquets to the couple.
Afterwards Premier Charest, who accompanied the couple throughout their Quebec trip, said. "We were very impressed by their empathy. They wished us good luck for the upcoming marriage in our family. It was very kind of their part."
Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume, was beaming after overseeing the royal pomp and ceremony.
"It's good for Quebec. The people are proud of the visit. These are people who are loved. They were magnificent. People were smiling. All I saw were smiles."
Charest, in a subtle wink to protesters, added. "We only heard good things," while laughing alongside the Quebec City mayor.
There were reportedly fewer than 200 protesters present and their chants were said to be barely audible at the actual event. Quebec City police arrested one protester.
The couple awoke in the provincial capital after departing Montreal around 10 p.m. under under bright skies lit by the fireworks competition. They slept aboard the frigate HMCS Montreal as it traveled down the St. Lawrence River to the provincial capital.
On Sunday morning the couple took part in a prayer service aboard the vessel as it was docked in Quebec City.
The couple's agenda had them spending the day visiting a centre that helps street kids, taking part in a freedom-of-the-city ceremony at City Hall, and visiting the Citadelle. On Sunday evening, William and Kate fly to Prince Edward Island. There have been reports that the duchess is a fan of the "Anne of Green Gables" books
On Saturday afternoon in Montreal dozens of Quebec sovereigntists gathered outside the royals' first stop in Quebec -- the Sainte-Justine Children's Hospital.
Some carried signs -- in both French and English -- calling the royal couple "parasites."
Francois Latreille, an 18-year-old protester from St- Eustache, said that the monarchy doesn't respect Quebec culture.
Latreille is a member of the Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois, which helped organize the protest.
Curious onlookers and well-wishers, however, appeared to outnumber protesters about 10-to-one outside the hospital.
The couple arrived and entered so suddenly that many who had waited hours did not even get a glimpse of them as they entered the hospital.
The Montreal riot police arrived at the second stop on the royal agenda at 5:30 p.m. although the scene was relatively calm as chanting protesters and monarchists drowned each other out.
It was said that preparations had been made for the couple to enter the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality via an underground entrance if demonstrations were deemed to have become dangerous.
However a young girl named Mikayla Neves, who had brought a bouquet of flowers, was chosen from the crowd to present the flowers to the couple as they entered the institute.
Many interviewed in the crowd effusively praised the couple while Douglass Dalton of the Monarchist League took the protests in stride.
"It's all very Montreal: protests and good food," he said. "They'll have a fabulous meal and hopefully they will forget the protesters after the first course."
A group called The Peaceful Movement for Quebec Independence (MPIQ) had vowed to protest the event.
With files from the Canadian Press
