Camilla, Charles begin busy U.S. visit

By J.T. Nguyen Nov 2, 2005, 10:20 GMT

New York - Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, began their first journey abroad as Britain's newest royal married couple, visiting the World Trade Center site to pay respects to the 2,700 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The couple's New York stay kicks off their eight-day visit to the United States, including a formal dinner at the White House, an inspection of hurricane recovery in New Orleans and meetings with organic farmers in California.

It's the first foreign trip for the couple since their marriage in April, and all eyes in Britain are on how well Camilla is accepted as the newest - and most controversial - member of the royal family.

Camilla, 58, dressed in a pink Italian wool crepe jacket and dress by British designer Roy Allen, was without her customary hat. Her fair hair flowed in the wind in the sunny weather.

After the couple visited a nearby special monument being built to their 67 British subjects who died in the September 11 attacks in United States, the 57-year-old heir to the British throne spent about 90 minutes at U.N. headquarters - without his wife - talking passionately about his programme to assist young people becoming business entrepreneurs.

One of the social highlights of their visit occurred Tuesday evening: a reception at New York's prestigious Museum of Modern Art to meet Americans from the arts, business, politics and media - including 'Sex and the City' actress Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as Hollywood icon Robert De Niro and New York real estate magnate Donald Trump.

At U.N. headquarters, Charles and Secretary General Kofi Annan co- chaired a conference for youth employment meant to help young people become business entrepreneurs. In contrast to the tight security at Ground Zero, Charles seemed relaxed and spent more than 20 minutes leisurely chatting with business leaders and young delegates alike.

Charles joked that he is 'almost as old as the U.N.', and said he was fascinated by the events as the organization celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.

Outside the United Nations, a handful of Diana fans protested against the royal pair. Linda Hardwick from Edinburgh waved a banner with a big picture of the late princess, divorced from Charles before her 1997 death in Paris, and the words: 'Camilla, you are no Princess Di'.

The trip is being billed as Camilla's first chance to step out abroad and charm one of the royal family's largest constituencies, the former rebel colony of the United States.

But it won't be easy to replace Diana, mother of Charles' sons, in the hearts of Americans. Diana wowed the country 20 years ago by dancing with Hollywood heartthrob John Travolta at the White House. Even then, she was already unhappy in a marriage that would soon unravel after she discovered Charles was having a long-term affair with Camilla.

Camilla packed 50 dresses for the U.S. journey, so that she can decide at the last minute what to wear. Her new interest in design has revamped her image from a horse-loving hunting woman to a glamourous gala-going royal, Britain's Press Association reported. She's travelling with her favourite hairdresser and colourists and her trusted makeup artist.

Although New York Governor George Pataki escorted Camilla and Charles at the World Trade Center site, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is running for re-election next week, did not show up - in keeping with an overall lack of public attention to the royal visit.

U.S. media barely mentioned their arrival. Charles and Camilla are competing with a steady flow of stories about White House scandals, a Supreme Court vacancy, bird flu and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. According to one poll, 81 per cent of Americans were not remotely interested in the royal couple, and fewer than one in five wanted to meet them.

Charles and Camilla spent 20 minutes at Ground Zero, paused at a memorial overlooking the site and left an array of yellow and orange orchids, roses, lilies and hydrangeas.

As they left, they drove past 200 spectators but did not stop or return their waves. Despite the snub, at least one royals fan - a tourist from West Virginia who would only identify herself as Mary - expressed good will.

'I think they are meant to be together, in spite of Diana,' said Mary, also waiting for a glimpse at Ground Zero. 'I am an American, but I really like the British royal family.'