Updated: Fri Nov. 06 2009 19:39:48

ctvbc.ca

A royal tour by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall has come to B.C.

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived in Victoria Friday as part of their 11-day trip to Canada -- their first as a married couple.

They were greeted by about 1,000 people gathered on the front lawn of the B.C. legislature.

Prince Charles, 60, said no visitor to the province can help but be struck by the natural beauty of "this remarkable part of the world."

He said he is looking forward to visiting Vancouver Saturday to view its efforts to become one of the greenest cities in the world. He will also tour the village that will host athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.

Not surprisingly, monarchists are thrilled to welcome the royal couple.

"Victorians love the royal family and love the monarchy," Bruce Hallsor of the Monarchist League of Canada told CTV News Friday.

"Canadians and Victorians who come out to see Prince Charles and his new wife today are here to see Canada's future king. They're here out of respect for an institution that's an important part of who we are as Canadians."

Just behind the legislature at the James Bay Tea Room, staff were busily doing some last-minute polishing in case they get an unexpected visit.

In Victoria, British traditions -- like afternoon tea -- not only live on, they thrive.

"Even though I'm an American I enjoy doing the afternoon tea very much. It's a moment of reflection, a moment of relaxation and hopefully we learn to enjoy that, rather than work, work, work," said Ward Phillips, a royal follower.

In Vancouver, staff at VanDusen Botanical Garden have been preparing for the royal visit for the last three months.

Shanda Jerrett, the owner of Gumdrops Boutique, is also anxiously awaiting the visit.

She's presenting the royal couple raincoats that she designed for them.

"I'm flabbergasted, honoured, still side-swiped!" she said Friday.

She's learning to curtsy for the big day, too.

But while some are in a tizzy over the visit, a Canadian poll leaked recently in London suggests profound indifference to the royal tour.

With reports from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty and St. John Alexander and files from The Canadian Press