Britain's Royal Couple Battles in Canadian Boat Race

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images(PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, Canada) -- Prince William outmatched his bride when the two teamed up with local athletes in a friendly dragon boat race on Prince Edward Island's Dalvay Lake in Canada Monday.

The prince was in the center of his team's boat rowing while the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton, sat in the back of her boat to row.

As soon as the horn sounded to begin the race, the prince's team forged ahead of the duchess' boat, and in the end, William's team prevailed.

The prince tried to console his wife by giving her a hug as they stepped onto the pier.  After the race, they watched a band perform and ate some of the local fare of oysters and lobster.

Earlier on Monday, Prince William landed his military helicopter on the water of a lake in Prince Edward Island National Park.  Several onlookers were dressed in parkas and sat in lawn chairs near the edge of the water to see if the prince would be able to land the aircraft on the water as part of a military emergency training exercise.  He performed the landing a half dozen times.

Prince William, who is a Royal Air Force rescue helicopter pilot, requested the exercise as part of his visit to the province.  Canada is the only country that trains its Sea King helicopter pilots to do a controlled landing on water in case of an emergency.  The prince flies a Sea King in the U.K.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been making headlines since their visit to Canada began -- their first official overseas trip since marrying in April.

As the duchess greeted fans in Quebec City Sunday as part of their North American tour, one man asked her if she planned to have children.  Middleton, 29, who has not spoken publicly about having children, was overheard saying, "Yes, I hope to."

"It was really quite a surprise to hear her say that, quite an emotional response," said Katie Nicholl, an ABC News contributor and author of The Making of a Royal Romance.  "For Kate to give such an intimate aspiration is very special."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Prince William and Kate Middleton to Visit North America

Indigo/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Prince William and his bride, Duchess Catherine Middleton (formerly known as Kate), are headed to North America for their first official royal visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are scheduled to begin their trip Thursday with a swing through Canada to celebrate Canada Day and tour the country's territories. Afterward, on July 8, they will descend upon the United States, where they are to receive a red-carpet welcome in California.

The royal newlyweds have a jam-packed schedule, but will be traveling with a scaled-down entourage. Here is a guide to their North American trip:

Mindful of the recession, the duke and duchess "want to keep their entourage to a minimum," an aide told People magazine. So out with the lady-in-waiting, in with Middleton's hairdresser, James Pryce. Middleton may be asking Pryce for advice on her outfits as well, since she nixed bringing a dresser along. The duchess, who has become something of a fashion plate, is reportedly bringing along 40 different outfit changes.

The scaled-down staff of seven also includes a couple of media experts to handle the expected crush of press. They include press secretary Miguel Head, who has plenty of experience traveling with royalty, including William's first overseas tour when he represented Queen Elizabeth, and Patrick Harrison, the Prince of Wales's press secretary, who is an old hand at North American travel, having toured Canada with William's father Prince Charles and Camilla.

Helping the young royals navigate proper protocol during their trip will be their private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former army officer, and his assistant Chris Kealey, who will act as the tour coordinator to keep the couple on schedule.

Sir David Manning, a former foreign policy aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Britain's ambassador to America for four years, will also tag along, coaching the couple on charity work, official functions and more.

This will be Middleton's first visit to Canada, while William is hoping to get to know the country better. Both plan to experience "the diversity, vibrancy of Canada, its geography and people," a source at St. James's Palace told People.

On July 1, the duke and duchess will celebrate Canada Day, the official holiday marking the formation of Canada into a single country, by attending a citizenship ceremony and a parade on Parliament Hill, the public grounds of Canada's parliament buildings.

The duke and duchess' short weekend jaunt to Los Angeles is seen as a working visit, not a time to mix with celebrities.

"The palace is really playing down any big introductions to A-list stars," ABC News royal correspondent Katie Nicholl said on Good Morning America. "These tours are fun but hard work. It's really about forging ties between America and Great Britain."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio