CALGARY - Two of the country's biggest summer shindigs will bookend Prince William and Kate's visit to Canada -- a trip the government is already expecting to be an international media circus.

The newlyweds will begin their first official overseas tour in Ottawa where they will attend Canada Day celebrations and end it with the Calgary Stampede, the world-famous annual hoedown in Alberta.

In the middle there will be stops in Quebec City, Montreal, Yellowknife, Charlottetown, and Summerside, P.E.I., -- Kate is reportedly a big fan of "Anne of Green Gables."

"This is part of what nation building is all about -- hosting these kind of events," Heritage Minister James Moore told a news conference in Calgary Monday.

"Hosting the duke and duchess is an honour for Canada and we look forward to having them visit all of these different regions."

The federal government is preparing for "massive" international media coverage.

More than 85 journalists from the United Kingdom have already signed up to cover the tour. Only 18 came for the Queen's last trip to Canada, Moore said.

Canadian taxpayers, as hosts, will be on the hook for costs associated with the visit.

Moore would not give an estimate of the total, but said it would be under the $2 million shelled out for the Queen's last trip.

"This is actually a very modest event in terms of costs," Moore said.

"Many of the events that they are going to be taking part in are events that are already taking place ... so they will be visiting and taking in events that were already scheduled rather than doing events on the road, which sometimes can have some big costs."

The tour is to begin June 30 and conclude July 8.

The royal couple's plans include:

  • Ottawa and region, from June 30 to July 2.
  • Montreal, July 2.
  • Quebec City, July 3.
  • Charlottetown, July 3-4.
  • Summerside, July 4.
  • Yellowknife, July 4-6.
  • Calgary, July 6-8.

The government says a full itinerary is being developed with municipal, provincial, territorial and federal partners and private organizations. It will be released at a later date.

William and Kate were married in Westminster Abbey on April 29.

This will be the third time Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, has toured Canada. It will be Kate's first visit.

The trip to Canada is to be followed by a stop in Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

Royal watchers are already pegging the tour as a major test for the new bride. British tabloids have reported that aides are aware that she and William will be under the microscope and are planning the trip carefully.

One British news organization has reported that she has agreed to do one event in Canada without her husband.

William and Kate's tour will come only two months after their wedding. William's father and mother, Prince Charles and Diana, waited two years before visiting Canada. It was their second official tour as a married couple and followed a trip to Australia and New Zealand.