A celebration of royal proportions

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Will and Kate's visit to the capital was my personal excuse to dress up and wear a fascinator for the day. I was on Parliament Hill by 6:50am and got a spot fairly close to the gate leading up to the steps of Parliament. The crowd's festiveness and sense of patriotism were palpable, and an undercurrent of anticipation built as the grand old hands on the Peace Tower clock nudged towards 12:00. Jumbo screens followed the royal procession and the roars of the crowd. Will looked handsome in a sharp navy suit and Kate was resplendent in the same white Reiss dress she wore for her engagement portraits and a red Sylvia Fletcher fascinator adorned with maple leaves. I only caught a glimpse of Kate's hat as they walked the red carpet, but with a direct line of sight and a major zoom, I snapped a cute shot of them smiling at each other while they watched a series of performances by some very talented Canadian artists. The following day I was in Montreal for a bachelorette party and we completely randomly caught the procession driving down St. Denis as we walked out of the restaurant where we'd had dinner. But this time it was too dark for me to see them.

Back to Ottawa. In the evening, B and I hosted a party at our place. We rocked out to a DJ Tiesto show playing RIGHT BELOW US (shriek!!!) and again I was able to put my zoom to good use. The official celebrations ended with a fireworks show which we all watched through our living room windows. It was a Canada Day for the ages.

To my American readers - wishing you a very Happy Fourth of July!

Time-honoured Changing of the Guard ceremony

This was the crowd behind me

Seeing the Snowbirds/F18s fly over the Peace Tower 

brought a lump to my throat.

Royal Canadian (un)Mounted Police

Duke and Duchesse of Cambridge,

with our Prime Minister Stephen Harper off the right

DJ Tiesto show

My paparazzi skills put to good use

Watching the fireworks

HERE'S WHAT I WORE:

Photo at the north end of the Canal, by the locks

Dress - H&M

Belt - ? (Australia)

Shoes - Thailand markets

Fascinator - La Vie en Rose

Bag - Roots

Sunglasses - Joe

Bracelet - Witchery