Prince Edward, Sophie visit Canada

OTTAWA, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- British Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were Canada-bound Tuesday for a weeklong visit and tour of the far north.

The 48-year-old Earl of Wessex is Queen Elizabeth's and Prince Philip's youngest son and has visited Canada 32 times in his life, the Ottawa Citizen said.

The royal couple will spend two days in Ottawa before setting out for their first tour of the north in the capital of Nunavut, in Iqaluit. They will then travel south for stops in several Ontario cities before flying home next week.

Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada told the newspaper interest in the royal family remains high following the celebration of the queen's 60 years of rule and the wedding of Prince Andrew and Kate Middleton.

"A lot of people are excited about royal tours, and they'll pay attention to this," Finch said.

Edward is seventh in the line of accession to the throne and will eventually inherit the title Duke of Edinburgh that is now held by his father.