Prince William and Kate off to Canada, U.S. in first overseas trip

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Prince William and Duchess Catherine are setting off on their first official overseas trip as a married couple.

The pair, known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will begin their eight-day, multi-city tour of Canada on Thursday. That trip will be followed by a three-day stay in the Los Angeles area.

Pictures: Prince William and Kate
Pictures: Newlyweds at Wimbledon
Special section: The royal wedding

In Canada, William and Kate will join in raucous Canada Day celebrations, open the Calgary Stampede, and canoeing in the vast northwest territories. They will meet veterans and their families, as well as youth groups in several parts of the country.

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

They jet to Los Angeles on July 8, where they will visit schools and charities, take part in a charity polo match and attend a gala to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.

The charity event at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will be one of the highlights of the trip. 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 charity event. William plans to play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the winning team.

The black-tie gala is sure to be another highlight. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is organizing the event, called "BAFTA Brits to Watch," which will be held at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.

Last week, in anticipation of the trip, the newlyweds released a new official photo along with a statement from William.

"Catherine and I are very much looking forward to our Tour of Canada," the prince said. "We hope to be able to meet as many people as possible and to see as much of the extraordinary and diverse country as we can."

He added, "I have wonderful memories from my last times in Canada, and as such we consider it a great privilege to have been invited to Canada for our first joint Tour."

The trip also marks Kate's first-ever trip to North America.