Royal newlyweds Prince William and Catherine Middleton will be in Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day, and thousands of well-wishers, monarchists and curious onlookers are expected to descend on the capital to get their first glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The couple has stops planned from east to west and tens of thousands of Canadians are expected to interact with them over the course of their visit.
But what type of behaviour is appropriate when entering into close proximity with the royals?
Should you ask for a hug from Kate, for instance, or inquire as to Pippa's wellbeing?
Or would it be appropriate to comment on William's hairline, or to share the fact that you also enjoy cricket and rugby?
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said there's a fine line to walk when interacting with royalty. While the occasion will be much less formal than a visit from Queen Elizabeth, for example, there are still certain rules of etiquette that should be followed.
"It's common sense, to be honest," Vickers told CTV.ca from his home in England. "It's just great to make them feel welcome. Give them a big smile and they'll give a big smile back."
Following is Hugo's list of royal dos and don'ts when meeting the royal newlyweds
Do...
Greet the couple with a warm Canadian welcome. Let William and Kate know their visit is appreciated. After all, it's quite an honour that they're making Canada their first destination as a married couple. But don't be too gushy. A warm smile and a welcoming word or two will do for the traditionally reserved Brits, Vickers said.
Keep it short. If you get the opportunity to interact with the royals, don't monopolize their time. A brief greeting and a hand sqeeze should suffice, then let them move on: "Grabbing them, trying to hold them there and tell them your life story, it doesn't work," Vickers said.
Avoid teddy bears. Believe it or not, stuffed bears are a common gift given to royals by members of the public. The only problem, Vickers said, is that the Royal Family hates them. If a child has personally made a teddy bear for the royals, the youngster will no doubt be disappointed if they do not accept it. However, if the teddy bear is accepted, and it turns out to be a favourite of the child, he or she is likely to burst into tears moments after it has been taken away. For the royals it's a no-win situation, Vickers said.
Give flowers. If you must bring a gift, bring flowers. But ensure they are clean and dry and appropriately wrapped. Vickers said.
Get there early. Stake out your real estate in a prime viewing position long before the royals arrive, if you hope to interact with them in any way.
Bring a camera. A snapshot of the couple themselves is the best kind of souvenir, so have your point-and-shoot at the ready, Vickers said.
Don't...
Get upset if your gift is ignored. Members of the Royal Family have become experts at ignoring two things: crazy people and crazy gifts. No one wants to carry around a tacky framed picture of himself as a child, especially after receiving it from a stranger, and the same holds true for William and Kate. They will strategically avoid 'seeing' certain gifts, Vickers said. Just roll with it and don't get offended.
Be a bore. People who are ordinarily boring often become "mega boring" when in the presence of polite people who let them go on and on, Vickers said. Don't put Kate and William through that -- it's bad manners. They don't have time to hear your life story, and they have a lot of people to meet. Let them get to it!
Be overly familiar, or physical. Vickers once saw a complete stranger steal a kiss from Princess Diana at a meet-and-greet with the public, and she "didn't look too pleased." Neither did her security team. A bold but ill-advised move like that is likely to get you roughed up by undercover scurity guards. So be friendly, warm and welcoming, but keep your hands -- and lips -- to yourself.
Give a "bone-crushing" handshake. Keep your handshake firm but brief, usually no more than one pump, and be prepared for more of a royal squeeze or a touch, than a traditional handshake.
Try to force them to speak to you. Vickers said he's seen fans who blocked the sidewalk, effectively forcing the royals to chat with them. Don't yell at them either. Treat them as you would a new aquaintance or a formal guest -- with respect and a certain sense of caution to avoid insult.
All in all, Vickers said he expects the visit to go well.
William and Kate will be travelling across the country during their visit, with additional stops planned for Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I., Yellowknife, N.W.T. and Calgary, Alberta.
He said he expects the wildly popular couple to make friends everywhere they go.
"From what we've seen so far they're wreathed in smiles and just wanting everyone to have a good time," Vickers said.
"They're very popular at the moment, very much the flavour of the month, so I can imagine it will go pretty well."
