It was a full house at Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Sunday as Edmontonians geared up for a royal visit.
Prince Edward's wife was in Edmonton to meet with members of the Southern Alberta Light Horse Regiment.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, inspected crisply lined rows of soldiers outside the church before attending a service inside.
Royal watchers and the curious got as close as they could to the countess with their cameras, while others perched on the front steps of surrounding homes to get a view.
Children from the church presented the Sophie with homemade cards and flowers.
Serafina King, 13, said the day was exciting for the young children.
"I think it will be really interesting for the kids to have met someone and see what it is like and they talked to her a little bit, they learned a little bit, like, we did a little bit of history, so I think it is really good for them."
Parishioner Richard Baird said it was an honour.
"I'm a royalist and I think those that aren't royalists should contemplate what they would replace it with," he said.
"We don't want a George Bush, if I may say so, as representing the country, and some of the best countries in the world are monarchies and we're part of it and I greatly support that."
Prince Edward, the Queen's son, was in Calgary where he handed out the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Awards to 100 students for their academic standing and community responsibility.
with files from the Canadian Press