Canada told: 'Call us Wills and Kate'

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will relax royal etiquette on their tour of Canada telling the Canadian public they can drop official titles in favor of "whatever you feel comfortable with."

Rather than the strict protocol that surrounds state visits by the Queen, Prince William and Catherine will encourage Canadians to address them freely during their visit, which begins Thursday, and even to use the couple's nicknames.

"With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge it will be a little more relaxed and a little more, day I use the word, 'casual'," Kevin MacLeod, Canadian secretary to the Queen and coordinator of the newlyweds' tour of Canada said.

"During the walkabouts the duke and duchess will be meeting lots of people and they will no doubt be glad when a member of the public chooses a topic of conversation," he added.

Normally, members of the public are asked not initiate topics of conversation with royalty.

"If the couple meets someone who wants to call them 'Your Royal Highness' or 'Duke' and 'Duchess' that's fine. If they want to do a neck bow and a curtsy that's absolutely fine but if they feel they want to address them as 'William' and 'Catherine' or 'Wills' and 'Kate' the couple wouldn't bat an eyelid at either," the source said.

Previous generations of the British Royal family insisted on formalities like bows, curtsies and greetings like "Your Royal Highness" when they met with members of the public. But William and Catherine are taking a more modern approach, according to a palace source.

In a further sign that the couple will ditch formalities on the tour, William has been asked to dress casually when he meets part time soldiers the Canadian Rangers. The troops' unofficial uniform is a baseball cap and hoodie.