The Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge continued their Canadian tour Wednesday with a surprise, morale-boosting visit to the fire-ravaged town of Slave Lake, Alta.
On May 15, a devastating forest fire swept through the town, forcing 7,000 people to flee and reducing hundreds of homes and businesses to ash.
The damages totalled $700 million, making that fire the second costliest insured disaster in Canadian history.
Prince William and his new bride, who are said to have followed news of the disaster as it unfolded, arrived in Slave Lake Wednesday after a stop in Yellowknife.
The visit had not been made public until late on Tuesday. The couple will head to Calgary next.
The royal couple, it seems, were trying to keep their visit very low-key.
"They didn't want to interfere with the rebuilding process. They simply didn't want to get in the way," CTV's Janet Dirks reported from Yellowknife early Wednesday.
The pair began their visit by touring some of the town's devastated areas, where homes were reduced to ash and vehicles were charred down to their metal frames. They walked down one decimated street, asked questions about the destruction and even stopped to touch a torched truck.
Next, they stopped by the Northern Lakes College to visit with about 50 people, including firefighters, local officials and rescue personnel who worked during the disaster.
Residents also took part in the meeting, which occurred in the college's gymnasium. Inside, those who took part were seated in plastic chairs and folding tables, and the couple greeted each table personally.
Chantelle Hedin, who lives in Slave Lake, asked her boss for a long lunch break so she could be part of the crowd that welcomed the prince and his new wife.
Hedin said that people were lined four of five-deep near the college just for the chance to interact with the British royalty.
"Once they came, the crowd just erupted," Hedin said over the phone from Slave Lake.
Despite the large crowd, Hedin said that everyone quieted down once the couple began greeting those on hand, as the audience wanted to hear what was being said.
"We were just so happy and privileged for them to come and visit us," she said.
Hedin noted that despite a scheduled day-off, the couple made a special effort to bring some goodwill and cheer to the town.
And she added that the royal appearance is simply the latest bit of good news for locals, following an outflow of support from across Canada.
"The community here definitely feels the love from everyone," she said.
Even before the royals landed, locals were gathering outside the college, eager to see the newlyweds. When they arrived at the college, the crowd of about 3,000 chanted "Will and Kate" as the pair made it inside the college from their minibus.
Needless to say, residents of the hard-hit town were charmed.
"It's so nice to know that people think that this was a big deal," Sheri Smears told The Canadian Press.
"It's not just a little blip and I think the reason that they came here is because the people of Slave Lake have shown their spirit. Instead of whining and complaining, they are just forging ahead."
The disaster has become the worst in Canada in more than a decade. The ice storm that hit Quebec and Ontario in 1998 cost $1.8 billion.
More than 400 businesses and homes were destroyed by the fire, and locals have only begun the long journey of rebuilding. Flooding has also hit Slave Lake in recent weeks, with heavy rains causing more headaches.
Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said she spent much of the fire-area tour chatting with Kate.
"She was interested ... in how people are going to start building their homes and where families are now, how many people have been displaced," the mayor told CP.
"She was very concerned. She really focused on how are we going to get going on the reconstruction and rebuild. It was an amazing, amazing moment."
On Wednesday afternoon, the royals left for some rest and private time at an undisclosed location. It's expected they will be back in the spotlight in Calgary on Thursday afternoon.
