British royals Prince William and his wife Kate head home after visit to Canada
Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte board a floatplane for their official departure from Canada in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on Oct 1, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
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VICTORIA, Canada (AFP) - Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate left British Columbia's capital Saturday (Oct 1) to the cheers of a crowd as they headed home after week-long visit.
The royal couple and their small children George and Charlotte boarded a hydroplane - the capital city Victoria is on an island in the Pacific - to head to the mainland and take a Canadian government jet back to Britain.
The family has spent a week touring nature sites in British Columbia and the Yukon territory, meeting with everyday Canadians, some of them enduring hard times.
In Pictures: Prince George and Princess Charlotte's first official visit to Canada
The government, criticised for hosting the costly visit - the couple's previous visit in 2011 cost 1.2 million Canadian dollars (S$1.2 million ) - gave the couple a going away gift.
It was a donation of 100,000 Canadian dollars that will go to two charities in Canada, benefiting indigenous people and immigrants.
"Canadians have a real affection for the royal family, which was once again very much on display during this tour," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
ROYAL FAMILIES