Prince Charles and Camilla's Big Apple rounds
By Stone Martindale Jan 29, 2007, 16:18 GMT

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Britain's Prince Charles speaks after being presented the Global Environmental Citizen Award by Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and The Global Environment at the Harvard Club in New York, January 28, 2007. (UPI Photo/Mike Segar/POOL)


Gotham city has been given the royal treatment, hosting Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall who visited with society types and regular kids during their whirlwind stay.


Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived in New York from Philadelphia by private train Sunday and toured the Harlem Children's Zone, which operates the Promise Academy charter school and a range of social services and programs dedicated to the enrichment of Harlem, reported the New York Post.

The children did their homework on the Prince and inquired about the Prince's pet corporation, the organic food company Duchy Originals.

The Ap reported Tiffany Vargas, 13, asked Charles if his multimillion-dollar line of organic foods, Duchy Originals, was on the stock market.

"No," he told her, "it's still a private company. We haven't got quite to that stage yet."

Afterward, the couple went on a Harlem must see tour, visiting the office building where former President Clinton has an office and the Hotel Theresa, where Cuban leader Fidel Castro stayed decades ago. They toured a health clinic where children, sitting at computers, learned about asthma.

Prince Charles even dribbled a bit of basketball and his second shot attempt hit the ring, drawing applause.

One student player, Mouhamed Mbaye, 14, said the school was lucky to have a royal visit. "Others schools the prince didn't (visit)," he said. "He decided to come here."

Arona Pratt, the mother of another player, said: "I think it's great. My son was up all night waiting for this. They looked much nicer in person than they do on TV."

Sunday evening, Charles received an award for his work on behalf of the environment attended by Meryl Streep, who ditched the SAG awards to help with the honors.

Former Vice President Gore presented Charles with the Global Environmental Citizen Award and praised the Prince of Wales' knowledge and passion, said he and the prince have had conversations about the global environment for 20 years.

Charles was "touched" at being honored by Gore.

"We had great fun talking about all these issues long ago," the prince said. "I've been so fascinated watching his career, and to receive this award from him really has been a particular privilege but also immensely special."

Charles and Camilla also visited Philadelphia's Independence Hall, their first trip to the city of brotherly love where Americans declared their independence.