Kelowna gets international media acclaim thanks to royal visit

Here’s the story: a young couple rolls into the Okanagan, creates a bit of a stir, and leaves the same day. Who knew how much that day would affect Kelowna?

In case you’re in the dark, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge--or Will and Kate, as you might know them--were in the city for a few hours on Tuesday.

They’re a bit important, and with them came a slew of reporters trailing their tails.

These reporters travelled from as near as Kamloops, and as far as London, England.

Leading up to the royal visit, people were looking into where Will and Kate would be headed, curious about the royal life, of course.

Within the past week, articles about Kelowna have appeared in CNN, The Globe and Mail, The Times (twice-- and did I mention they’re London’s largest publication), Keep Exploring (a UK-based travel site), Vogue (Yep, that Vogue) and more.

“With Okanagan Lake beaches and plenty to eat and drink, this region isn't just a destination for the royals -- rather, it's fast becoming a prime vacation spot for an ever-increasing number of Americans, here to taste the fruit of the soil and enjoy the other benefits of this lovely terroir,” wrote Tim Johnson for CNN.

Besides a stop at UBCO, Will and Kate also spent time at Mission Hill for a special Taste of British Columbia event showcasing the wine and and food from the area.

“While you may not be able to sit down for dinner with the Duke and Duchess, you can walk through the winery’s pinot noir estate vineyard to learn about the terroir, then step into the underground Barrel Cellar to learn first-hand about how Mission Hill’s wines are fermented, aged, and protected. The tour ends in the private tasting salon with a personalized tasting paired with artisan cheeses and handcrafted chocolates,” Celest Moure wrote, for Vogue.

With Kelowna putting its best foot forward for the world to see, time will only tell how much interest The Duke and Duchess have brought to the region.