The royal couple opted out of one of Calgary's time-honoured traditions when they arrived on the airport tarmac for the final stop on their tour of Canada.

As wind forced Kate to pull her long hair out of her face, neither she nor Prince William donned the white cowboy hats given to them by the mayor of the city.

Kate, who was having trouble keeping her primrose dress down in the blustery conditions, instead focused her attention on a six-year-old cancer patient who presented her with flowers. The Make-a-Wish Foundation had arranged for the girl to be there.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi hinted that the cowboy hats would be on the royal heads before long.

"Stay tuned," Nenshi said. "I am thrilled they accepted the gifts with magnanimity. They asked how it should be worn.

"When you have guests, you don't tell them what to do. I expect you will see some western regalia before they leave."

The custom-made, white Smithbilt cowboy hats are Calgary's version of the key to the city. The white-hatting ceremony has been celebrated by dignitaries visiting Calgary for more than 60 years and is a symbol of the city's cowboy culture. Its honourees range from the Dalai Lama to Dr. Phil.

Previous members of the Royal Family to be white-hatted include Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Philip, who received his third cowboy cover in 1969, ruffled some feathers when he quipped about not knowing what to do with another hat other than to carry water or plant flowers in it.

That prompted the city to give Prince Charles a black cowboy hat when he arrived eight years later.

Other white hatters include Pope John Paul II, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, former U.S. president George W. Bush, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On the entertainment side, add Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Luciano Pavarotti, Tommy Chong and even Ozzy Osbourne.

The couple's arrival in Cowtown after a private break — reports say they spent the night at a remote Rocky Mountain lodge near Lake Louise, Alta. — coincided with the kickoff to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, the 10-day exhibition and rodeo that celebrates the western way of life.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have a full plate as they wrap up their nine-day Canadian visit.

They were to tour a high-tech laboratory at the University of Calgary before attending a reception with host Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The couple will be given a brief bull-riding demonstration and the prince is to have his picture taken as he throws a stove into the back of a chuckwagon.

On Friday, they are to open the Stampede parade, visit the zoo and meet homeless youth, attend an Alberta government reception and lay a wreath before leaving Canada and heading to Los Angeles.