Prince William and Princess Catherine to visit California in July

Prince William and Princess Catherine will visit California in July. The royal couple — who received the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the day of their marriage at London’s Westminster Abbey last Friday — will take a trip to the west coast of America from July 8 to July 10 following their first official overseas visit to Canada from June 30 to July 8.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit California, United States of America, following their tour of Canada in July this year,” said a statement from the palace.

“The couple will visit the state of California from July 8 to July 10 2011. A detailed itinerary will be published at a later date.”

Although no other details of the California visit have been announced, William and Catherine’s 10 days in Canada will include stops in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the National Capital Region.

Until now Catherine has only taken day long official engagements and has never visited America before.

It was revealed earlier this week that the couple are to set off on a world tour next year taking in Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean, as well as other Commonwealth countries in Africa and Asia, to ease Queen Elizabeth’s workload in her Diamond Jubilee year.

With the queen — William’s 85-year-old grandmother — reportedly having told fellow members of the British royal family they must rally round as she celebrates 60 years on the throne, it is thought Buckingham Palace officials are hoping to capitalize on the success of Friday’s nuptials, which were watched by an estimated two billion people worldwide.

“Demand for William and Catherine is expected to go through the roof following the incredible reaction to their wedding,” a source said.

“But next year’s Jubilee is major for the royal family and William and Catherine are keen to play their part in it.”

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