By James Peters / Dirk Meissner / Laura Kane

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wow royal watchers in Kelowna

Sep 27, 2016 | 1:49 PM

KELOWNA — Thousands of onlookers got a brush with royalty this afternoon in Kelowna.

Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arrived at Kelowna International Airport during the noon hour.

The royal couple greeted onlookers before attending the unveiling of a plaque to mark the tenth anniversary of the University of British Columbia-Okanagan.

From there, the couple attended a UBCO women’s volleyball game where they mingled with students and were presented with jerseys.

William and Kate were then whisked off to a private function at Mission Hill Estate Winery.

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KELOWNA, B.C. — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Kelowna on Tuesday for a tour of the city that included a visit to a local university campus and a chance to sample British Columbia’s culinary scene. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from Tuesday’s events:

WELL-WISHERS LINE UP FOR CHANCE AT BRUSH WITH ROYALTY:

Brittany Campbell, 26, stood with her nearly two-year-old son Rowen Campbell perched on her shoulders for a glimpse of the royals.

“We’ve been following her since she came into the limelight. She’s such a great role model for women,” said Campbell, who came about 90 minutes before the royal arrival. “I’m very much a believer in fairy tales and she’s like a modern-day fairy tale come true. She’s really inspiring.”

Brittany Forte held her sleeping daughter, Ayla, who is 2 1/2 months old.

“As you can see, she can’t contain her excitement,” Forte joked.

“They’re these figurative people that you see on TV, you see them in pictures and now to see them in real life is really cool.”

Ray Folland and his 13-year-old daughter Sarah drove from nearby Lumby to see the royal couple. Both said they wanted to see the man who would one day be king.

“Hopefully in my lifetime he will be king and it would be nice to see him before that,” said Folland, 61.

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SCORCH THE MASCOT GETS TIME WITH PRINCE WILLIAM

On a walk through of the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, the Duke and Duchess met Scorch, the flame-costumed mascot of the school’s Okanagan Heat.

The royals shook the mascot’s hand and spoke briefly with Amarat Sandhu, who said William asked if it was hot inside the costume.

“I told him it was,” said Sandhu.

The Prince told Sandhu his three-year-old son Prince George would be delighted to meet Scorch.

The royal couple also watched the women’s volleyball team in the gym and received commemorative Okanagan Heat jerseys with “Cambridge” emblazoned on the back, as well as teddy bears for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  

Sophie Wang, an 18-year-old psychology student, said the royal visit was everything she had hoped for, although she didn’t get a coveted photo.

“That’s as close as we’re ever going to get to royalty,” she said.

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SUNNY SKIES HELP B.C. PRODUCE SHINE

Prince William sampled a watermelon salad at a winery overlooking Okanagan Lake as he basked in the good weather in Kelowna on Tuesday.

“Weather, food, wine: what more could you want,” said the Duke of Cambridge, who attended the Taste of British Columbia Festival.

Chef David Hawksworth said William complimented him on the flavours and aromas in the Yuzu Koshu Shuswap Watermelon salad, which included B.C. Dungeness crab and locally grown mint.

Chef Vikram Vij said both William and Kate sampled a lamb dish he made and the prince asked about spices, while Kate complimented him on the dish.

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Dirk Meissner and Laura Kane, The Canadian Press