Canada will welcome the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall today for a Diamond Jubilee tour in honour of the Queen.

The Royal Family are travelling the globe to mark the Queen's milestone and Charles and Camilla are making their first trip in celebration of her 60-year reign.

Prince Harry has already toured Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex have visited other Caribbean islands and the Princess Royal travelled to South Africa.

Charles and Camilla will tour the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan as they celebrate those who have dedicated themselves to the service of others - one of the themes of the tour.

One of the highlights of the visit will see the prince join a gathering of first nations' chiefs in Toronto.

Speaking about Charles's meeting with the leaders of indigenous peoples, a Clarence House spokesman said: "The national chief will present the chiefs from around the country and there will be a traditional welcome (for the prince).

"They will talk about the issues that are uppermost in first nations peoples' minds."

He added: "The visit is timed to coincide with Victoria Day - the celebration of the Queen's official birthday in Canada - and marks the first of their royal highnesses' tours of realms to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of her majesty the Queen."

To highlight Canadians' service to their communities on Tuesday Charles and Camilla will present the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal - available to members of the military and emergency services who have five years or more service.

The royal couple will arrive at Saint John International Airport in New Brunswick late this evening but their four-day tour will begin in earnest tomorrow - Victoria Day - with an official welcome ceremony at the Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, where the prince trained in the 1970s.

Later that day they will attend a public festival in Saint John to celebrate the Queen's official birthday in Canada before flying to Toronto for a traditional Victoria Day fireworks celebration over Lake Ontario.

As the Prince and Duchess are members of Canada's Royal Family the country's RAF will be responsible for all their flights.

During Tuesday Camilla will pay her first visit to the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada of which she has recently become Colonel-in-Chief.

This regiment will join units which have Charles as their colonel and others drawn from across Canada for a military muster celebrating both the Diamond Jubilee and the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The tour will end in Regina, Saskatchewan where the royals will help celebrate the centenary of Canada's legislative building, highlight innovative entrepreneurship and culminate with them honouring artistic excellence at a concert of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, of which the prince is royal patron.