Canada royal tour 2016 live: Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive with George and Charlotte

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23:24

Eyes on royal children

George and Charlotte are rarely pictured, so their presence on tour is sure to generate plenty of interest.

Prince George was a total pro when he arrived in New Zealand - calm in his mother’s arms as they got off the plane, despite the long journey.

It was Kate who had a bit of trouble with her scarlet Catherine Walker coat in the wind.

This time the journey is shorter - but that means it will be midnight for the Cambridges when they step off the plane in Victoria.

The private Canadian Air Force plane the family and their 12-strong entourage have travelled in has flat-bed seats and a cabin for privacy, so hopefully they will have had a chance to get a bit of sleep.

But if you woke us up in the middle of the night we’d be pretty grumpy and rubbing our eyes, so good luck to William and Kate with the little ones.

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23:17

Reporters in position at the airport

Our royal reporter Victoria Murphy (follow her @queenvicmirror on Twitter) is in Canada with photographer Ian Vogler and they are among the journalists getting in place to see the Cambridges on day one of the tour.

The Cambridges will first be seen stepping off the plane, and a prime spot there is in particular demand as George and Charlotte will be with them.

A convoy will then take them to Government House, where they will drop off the kids, before travelling on to the British Columbia Legislature Building.

23:06 Victoria Murphy

Three key points on day 1

The tour officially kicks off when the family touch down at Victoria Airport on a Royal Canadian Air Force plane where George and Charlotte will be pictured disembarking with their parents.

After a brief stop at Government House - their home-from-home for a week - to drop off the kids, William and Kate will visit British Columbia’s Parliament Buildings where crowds are already gathering.

Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror Fans are staking out their places on the red carpet

A spokesman said: “It will give The Duke and Duchess a chance to say hello to the people of Canada just hours after touching down in the country.”

The couple will pay their respects at Victoria’s cenotaph and unveil a new plaque paying tribute to the veterans of Canada’s involvement in the Afghanistan conflict.

Then the official welcome will get underway with a guard of honour and speeches before the royals return to Government House for meetings with Canadian leaders.

22:59 Victoria Murphy

Cambridges set for first tour as a four

Prince William and wife Kate start their second royal tour of Canada today - and their first as a family of four.

Prince George travelled with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they visited Australia and New Zealand in 2014, but he and little sister Charlotte were left behind for the visit to India and Bhutan earlier this year.

But they boarded a private Royal Canadian Air Force jet with their parents earlier today and will touch down in Victoria at around midnight UK time - 4pm local time.

George and Charlotte will make some rare public appearances with their parents

Aides have said William and Kate are “delighted to have the opportunity to introduce their children to the country”.

The family are due to be greeted at the airport by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire. Trudeau said he looked forward to “showcasing beautiful British Columbia and to promoting awareness of both youth and mental health issues alongside their royal highnesses”.

George, three, and Charlotte, 16 months, will then be taken to British Columbia’s Government House, where they will be based for the week-long visit.

Travelling with their largest-ever entourage of 12, the royals are accompanied by nanny Maria Borrallo, hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker, PA Natasha Archer, private secretaries Miguel Head, Rebecca Deacon and Laura Baker, as well as four press officers, a secretary and an operations manager.

Reuters Nanny Maria Borallo is joining the royals on tour

The future King George was dubbed the “Republican Slayer” when he visited Australia and New Zealand in 2014, and monarchists will be hoping he has the same effect in Canada, where support for the Queen is high but polling shows only 46 per cent would support Charles as King.

As their parents carry out more than 30 public engagements, George and Charlotte will have toys laid out for them at the 13-bedroom Government House and will be able to explore outside, where there is a waterfall, totem pole, fountain with rubber ducks and a vegetable garden.

The resident chef is expected to cook their favourite dinners, including spaghetti bolognese for Prince George.

The children will make their own public appearance on Thursday, in what will be Charlotte’s first ­engagement, on the lawn at a party for military families.