In the navy: Prince William and coordinated Kate board plane to Canada as ten-day royal tour begins

The Duchess of Cambridge

Jet set: Kate Middleton does understated chic as she prepares to board a plane to Canada at Heathrow airport today

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proved they were in perfect sync as they boarded a plane to Canada today.

Wearing matching navy blue, the couple were pictured on the runway heading to the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft at London's Heathrow Airport.

They are expected to land in Ottawa at 2pm local time.

Kate was the picture of understated elegance on the runway in a blue Roland Mouret dress and matching £579 blazer with gold buttons, by Smythe.

She accessoried with blue court shoes and a £895 Mulberry handbag.

William wore a suit of the same colour and a red tie.

With her hair freshly blow-dried, Kate's glossy mane will no doubt continue to look flawless throughout the trip as she is rumoured to be travelling with her hairdresser James Pryce.

Her wardrobe has been kept under wraps but potential outfits have been an endless source of speculation over the last few weeks.

Kate is said to have hired a personal shopper at London department store Selfridges.

Judging by her outfit today, it seems Kate is starting to favour high-end labels over the High Street

Either way, the couple are on a tight schedule.

William and Kate's arrival in the Commonwealth country is eagerly anticipated and their appearance later in the capital is expected to draw thousands on to the streets.

They will be celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa, opening the Calgary Stampede and canoeing in the Northwest Territories before taking off to Los Angeles.

Canada's prime minister has even unveiled a personal flag for use during William's visit.

It is the first flag to be created by Canada for a member of the royal family since 1962, when the queen adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the flag was approved by the queen and William.

The Canadian secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and the chief organizer of the trip Kevin MacLeod said: 'I think given the youth and the dynamism of this couple they will simply continue to reaffirm the important role the crown plays in this country.

The young prince also plans to demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by taking part in a water landing demonstration, and the couple is scheduled to put on aprons and take part in a cooking workshop in Quebec City.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge board a plane

Perfect match: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will land in Ottawa later today to start their ten-day tour in Canada and U.S

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
The Duke of Cambridge

Fresh-faced: Kate looked groomed to perfection, with freshly blow-dried hair while William looked elegant in a blue suit and red tie

Some anti-royal protests are expected in the French-speaking province of Quebec, with small groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

The prince and Kate jet to Los Angeles on July 8 and will host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.

The southern California trip includes a $4,000 three-course meal and a charity polo match up close with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are formally known.

The Duke of Cambridge (front right) talks to James Wright (left),  the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom as he and the Duchess of Cambridge (rear right) walk to board a plane of the Royal Canadian

On duty: William talks to James Wright, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

A plane  of the Royal Canadian Air Force

Private transport: The couple are travelling on the Royal Canadian Air Force plane

So far, about 1,000 VIP tickets have been sold to the polo match along with about 400 general admission passes, raising nearly $4.4 million for the July 9 event. William plans to play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the winning team.

William will be celebrating Canada's birthday on Friday, the same day his mother Diana would have turned 50.

He is due to say a few words at a number of stops. Kate is not scheduled to speak.

The couple will travel from the sub-Arctic to oil-rich Calgary, Alberta, from busy Montreal to bucolic Prince Edward Island of "Anne of Green Gables" fame.

They'll sit around a campfire with young people, dress casual for the Calgary rodeo, join a cookout in Quebec City and hand out flags to newly-minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony.

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