- Kate and William prepared a series of dishes at a cookery class
- Met by separatist protesters in Quebec objecting to the Royal visit
- Visited children in a cancer ward in Montreal
- The Duchess showed how she digs Canada after tree planting
Until now Prince William’s only culinary boast has been that he makes a mean shepherd’s pie.
After 40 minutes in a Canadian cookery school however, it was herb and cranberry-crusted lamb and croustillant a l’effiloche de canard confit – and a distinctly competitive attitude to his lobster soufflé.
The Prince and the Duchess of Cambridge, dressed in personalised chef's whites, were taking part in a cookery demonstration at Montreal’s top chef school, the Institut de tourisme et d’hotellerie du Quebec.
Although they were greeted by a noisy demonstration by Quebec separatists, the Prince did not let that distract from the main task in hand – proving that he was a better cook than his host, Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
Masterchef: Kate reacts during a cooking workshop in Montreal today
Ready steady cook: William shows why he should avoid the kitchen as Kate gets to grips with a lobster
Food for thought: Kate carries a tray of hors d'oeuvres after spending some time in the kitchen as the Royal couple's tour of Canada continues
Mr Charest produced the first soufflé of the lesson, which was brought forward for display with a flourish by the Duchess. Two minutes later the Prince brought his soufflé up, removed the
Premier’s and said: 'Much better! This one is mine.'
It was, he said, 'a soufflé-off'. And if that wasn’t painful enough, he turned to Mr Charest and rubbed it in with one of those Windsor puns that his father used to love: 'If you could rise to the challenge that would be great.'
A despondent Mr Charest, who in fact has a reputation as an accomplished cook, took a sad look at his rejected soufflé and said: 'Now I guess I will have to pack it up and bring it home.'
For the Prince, the demonstration was an opportunity for some light-hearted clowning about, pretending to pinch the strawberries from a bowl and insisting on dipping a spoon into a vat of melted chocolate for a taste. “Is there a time limit? Do we eat as we go? I’m quite hungry.'
Culinary Kate: So far the Duchess of Cambridge has been the centre of attention during the Royals tour of Canada
Cookery queen: Kate showed she is not only a whiz in the kitchen but also looked great in her chef's jacket
The Duchess, however, seemed to take it all much more seriously. Student Theresa Rindress, 23, who showed her how to make an amuse-bouche of foie gras on a toasted brioche with apple cider jelly, said: 'I showed her how to hold the knife and position her hand so that she did not cut herself. She was fantastic. She was very competent with the knife.'
She added: 'I asked her if she liked to cook at home. She said she likes to cook, but does not do fancy things.
'She more makes big batches, throws a few ingredients together, trying new things. But
that’s how chefs experiment, throwing things together and seeing if the flavours work.'
As ever, the old rule applied: whenever a royal tries something knew, tell them how brilliant they are. When William made goats cheese, baby cucumber and elderberry jam, teacher Jean-Louis
Themistocle said: 'This is the best cucumber I have ever seen!'
It cannot have been all bad, however: afterwards the Duke and Duchess, accompanied by the Premier and his wife and two of the Prince’s senior aides, ate what they had prepared. There were not understood to have been any complaints.
The couple had been met by a small group of protesters in the French-speaking province of Quebec as they visited a children's hospital.
Protest: Demonstrators get their message across outside Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal
Demonstration: Kate and William were welcomed by separatist protesters objecting to the cost of the Royal tour
Objection: There were anti-monarchist protests in the streets in Montreal yesterday, a far cry form the welcome Kate and William received in Ottawa
About 35 protesters, including members of the separatist group Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois, or Quebecker Resistance Network, stood outside Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal chanting 'A united people will never be vanquished.'
They carried signs that read 'Parasites go home,' 'War Criminals,' and 'Your fortune came from the blood of our ancestors.'
The demonstrations were a rare moment of criticism aimed at the young royals, who have for the most part been welcomed with open arms by Canadians eager to catch a glimpse of the glamorous newlyweds.
The newlyweds were there to meet with cancer patients and visit the hospital's neonatal care facility. The Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre is the largest mother-child center in Canada.
Visit: Kate and William talk to children in the cancer ward at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal
Making friends: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the hospital as part of their royal tour of Canada
William and Kate started their day in Ottawa where they followed in the footsteps of a long line of royal couples as they shovelled earth on to tiny saplings as a living memento of their visit.
Even in killer heels, a chic dress and groomed, glossy hair - Kate proved she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty as she led the way, smiling as she took the shovel before her husband and threw soil on to the sapling.
Green-fingered: Kate gets stuck in with the shovel and dirt as William looks on from a distance
Showing Wills how it's done: A well-groomed Kate handles the shovel with ease - despite her glossy hair swinging in her face
During the tree planting ceremony the Duke and Duchess brought joy and comfort to a cancer victim who was recently told he had only 12 weeks to live.
In scenes that brought back memories of the Duke's mother Diana, the royal newlyweds bent down to speak to wheelchair-bound Terry Joyce, 47, a former computer expert from Ottawa.
How did I do, darling? The Duchess shares a laugh with her husband, Prince William
Glamorous gardeners: Kate keeps smiling as William seems to be taking his task more seriously
Getting his hands dirty: William takes the shovel from his wife to throw soil on the sapling
Terry struggled to his feet and leant against a walking frame as William, 29, arrived but the royal told him to sit down and relax.
When Kate arrived she shook him warmly by the hand and told him: 'Let's get you out of the sunlight Terry.'
After the couple left, Terry, who lives in the Bruyere Hospice, burst into tears and was comforted by his doctor.
He said: 'This has given me a tremendous lift. It goes to show that we have a wonderful monarchy and we really need people like this.
'I was told a week ago I would be meeting them and I have been looking forward to it ever since. It has been one of the best days of my life.'
'One of the best days of my life': Kate and William meet with cancer sufferer Terry Joyce in Ottawa. His last wish was to meet the royal couple
Seeds of tradition: Trees have been planted by a succession of royal hands, including William's parents and grandparents
Following in fine tradition: A glamorous Kate and William look relaxed and happy as they arrive at the ceremony
So happy: William and Kate looked every inch the loving newlyweds
During the ceremony the royal couple planted an Eastern Hemlock in the shadow of the Pin Oak planted by William's parents on June 21, 1983 - his first birthday.
William took a deep breath and looked deep in thought as he was shown the plaque bearing his late mother's name.
Later the couple met newlyweds who married on the same day as them - April 29 this year - as well as couples celebrating their 50th, 60th and even 70th wedding anniversaries.
Meeting the fans: Tiny Kate Johnston-Zemek, the three-year-old granddaughter of Canada's Governor General, curtsies to the Royal couple
Kate, smiled as Adrienne Charlebois, celebrating 50 years of marriage to her husband Denny, told the royal: 'I hope you will be as fortunate as we have been in our marriage.'
The royal couple looked at each other and replied: 'We hope so too.'
Later, Kate was treated to a curtsey by the three-year-old granddaughter of the Governor General, David Johnston.
Kate Johnston-Zemek has clearly been practising as she performed the elaborate manoeuvre in her pretty summer dress.
The native species planted by William and Kate will serve as an enduring symbol of the couple's love for 800 years.
The dazzling Duchess: Kate giggles during the ceremonial tree planting
Growing love: The sapling planted by the Royal couple will serve as an enduring symbol of their love
Its position means that it is surrounded by red oaks planted by other members of the Royal Family including the Queen's which has grown to a great height since being planted in 1977.
More than 120 commemorative trees grace the grounds of Rideau Hall.
The tradition was first started by Japan's Prince Fushimi when he made the first official foreign royal visit to Ottawa in 1907.
The list of previous members of the monarchy who have turned gardener and used a spade to help set a young tree on its way stretches back more than 70 years.
Welcome to the clan: The position of the couple's sapling means it is surrounded by red oaks planted by other members of the Royal Family
William's great grandparents George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother took part in a tree planting ceremony during their tour of Canada in 1939.
A further 15 have been planted by royal hand with everyone from William's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to his grandparents, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, following the tradition.
They have all been established in the royal grove area in the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa - the official residence of the Governor General, the Queen's representative in Canada.
The tree planting was a first for the Duchess but the Duke has performed the ceremony in New Zealand and Australia.
Fast becoming a fashion icon, Kate wore a grey Kensington dress by Catherine Walker as she helped plant the tree - one of the favourite designers of the Princess of Wales.
The Duchess's mother, Carole Middleton, wore a pale blue Catherine Walker suit dress to her daughter's glittering wedding in April.
ANOTHER 'INSPIRED CHOICE' FOR KATE, THE DAZZLING DUCHESS
Stylish: Kate is fast becoming a fashion icon
It may not have been the most practical of outfits for a tree-planting ceremony.
But the Duchess of Cambridge drew plaudits for her elegant, dove grey dress by Catherine Walker, even if it did look a slightly uncomfortable choice for the task in hand.
The Kensington dress with short sleeves featured collar detailing at the back and fell just above the knee.
Kate, on a tour of Canada with new husband William, completed the pared-down look with nude LK Bennett shoes.
Mosha Lundstrom Halbert, associate fashion news editor at Canadian fashion magazine Flare, said it was significant that Kate chose a designer so closely connected to the Princess of Wales.
The Duchess's mother Carole has also been spotted wearing outfits by the French-born designer recently.
Ms Lundstrom Halbert said: 'I wanted to see her step it up in terms of the fashion quotient, and she didn't do that today.
'But I think what she did do is make a respectful statement, as yesterday would have been Diana's 50th birthday.
'I thought it was an inspired choice - a meaningful and lovely statement.
'She has a history of dressing the royals and it's nice that Kate is continuing that.'
Whether or not the designer was chosen because of her links to William's mother, the fashion expert said it certainly fitted Kate's style.
'She has a silhouette she likes to fit to,' said Ms Lundstrom Halbert. 'But it would be nice to see her be a bit more adventurous.'
On its suitability for the first engagement of the day, she added: 'It doesn't look like an easy dress to bend down in. It also looked quite winter-appropriate, but it is quite warm here today.'
Kate's choice of shoe was 'safe and frankly a bit boring' said Ms Lundstrom Halbert, who added that she would like to see the Duchess wearing another designer.
Kate, now one of the most scrutinised women in the world, is reported to have taken up to 40 different outfits for her first visit to Canada and the United States.
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