VICTORIA - Prince George and Princess Charlotte have made their second public appearance of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's tour of British Columbia, taking part in a children's party Thursday at Government House in Victoria.

Charlotte immediately bee-lined for some colourful balloons before heading to the petting zoo for some time with the goats, sheep, rabbits and miniature horses.

She also spent some time with Moose, a large poodle and golden retriever cross breed that is a cancer therapy dog when he isn't entertaining royals.

Prince George sat on his father's knee before warming up to the party at a bubble-blowing station.

George used a squirt gun while Prince William picked up a wand to make huge bubbles.

The party with the royals is being held for the children and families of military service members who have loved ones on military deployment.

Twenty-four families were invited to the party at Government House, the official residence of B.C.'s lieutenant-governor.

Submariner Andrew Matheson, who serves on HMCS Victoria, said his daughters, Lily and Isabelle, and his wife Kristy met the royal couple and their children.

“It was surreal at first, absolutely,” he said. “They are both very personable people. At the heart they are parents.”

Children's entertainer Paul Kilshaw said Prince George asked him to make balloons into a spider and a volcano.

“He started talking about volcanoes and then about lava,” said Kilshaw, who made a teddy bear for Charlotte.

William blew the air out of the balloon into the laughing prince's face.

Kilshaw said meeting the royals “was over the top.”

“I was so honoured and so thrilled.”