Prince George melts Canadian hearts as future king waves farewell on royal tour

Robert Jobson2 October 2016

Prince George melted Canadian hearts by giving a hearty farewell as the royals prepared to fly back to Britain.

The three-year-old future king, and his 17-month-old sister Princess Charlotte, waved goodbye to well-wishers as they boarded a sea plane in Victoria on the final day of their Canada tour

And the cheeky prince even made the crowds chuckle when he left a nine-year-old boy hanging after he attempted a high-five – just as he’d done to Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau.

At one point he made a mad dash for the plane but was gently turned around by William as the Duke and Duchess gave a final farewell before heading home.

Royal family wave farewell on Canada tour

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On their final day in Canada, the royal couple visited the Breakwater Café in Victoria, where they met families that have been supported by the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre.

They met with Andrea Vukobrat, 25, a youth peer support worker for Kelty who started having panic attacks aged 5 and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at 18.

She oversees Kelty's Mindcheck website which helps support young people with mental health issues.

She told William and Kate "Being part of Kelty gave me knowledge I needed to support other young people that I could have used when I was struggling."

End of tour: The family visited Victoria on the final day of their visit
PA

Kate said: "I still think that initial stigma and taboo around mental health is what stops some young people talking to their parents.

“They don't want to burden their parents and that's the underlying issue which is hard to break through.

"We've heard so much about how early in their lives young children register trauma and how much later in their lives it comes out."

Melting hearts: Prince George and Princess Charlotte waved to crowds as they were cheered off
PA

Listening to Andrea's story about how it took years for her anxiety and depression to be diagnosed, William said: "So many people's natural reaction is to close down, talking things through is crucial."

Later William laughed out loud when he met a sailor with a magnificent "full set" beard.

"That is the most amazing specimen I have ever seen" William told bosun Steve Atkinson, who took 9 months to grow his beard.

Crowds: Canadians line up to say goodbye to the royals
PA

"Seriously that is incredible, it must have taken you ages but you must be very proud. I'm very jealous."

Moments earlier Kate had met Steve and said : "wow! Whiskers!"

William grew a full set when he was in the Royal Navy, as did his father Charles, grandfather Philip and Uncle Prince Andrew.

Prince Harry currently sports a closely shaved beard although it's known the Queen is not keen on them and discourages servants from having them.

The Sail and Life Training Society is a charity that uses the power of sailing to give young people skills and direction in their lives.

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