NEW YORK – Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Kate, are scheduled to visit one of New York City’s most sombre sites, the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum.
The Tuesday morning visit to the site, where 67 British citizens were among those who died, the most of any foreign country, is coming on the last day of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s trip. The visit to New York City and Washington was the first time either of them has visited those cities.
A handful of onlookers braved heavy rain and wind to await a glimpse of the royals on the memorial plaza.
“I love them so much,” said Kristina Crossan, a 24-year-old teacher. Her mother, Marianne Crossan, called the weather “a small price to pay.”
Ariana Lesko, a 19-year-old student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, said Kate “was just a regular girl” before marrying William. “She’s just so down to earth and I think it gives the rest of us normal girls some hope.”
On Tuesday evening, William and Kate are expected at a black-tie fundraiser for the University of St. Andrews, where they both got their degrees.
READ MORE: Prince William and Duchess Kate land in New York City
On Monday, William went to the White House and spoke at a World Bank conference. Kate wrapped Christmas gifts and helped children decorate picture frames while touring a child development centre with New York City’s first lady, then talked technology, theatre and more with a British-success-story guest list at a lunch at the consul general’s home.
The duchess and first lady Chirlane McCray met with families and heard about the work of the Northside Center for Child Development, which offers mental health and educational services.
“Very nice to meet you,” Kate told a classroom of 3- and 4-year-olds, who were embellishing picture frames with stickers.
In the evening, the couple attended a reception at the British Consul General’s residence co-hosted by the Royal Foundation and the Clinton Foundation, celebrating conservation efforts. When they arrived, they spent some time talking with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky.
IN PHOTOS: Britain’s Prince William and Kate U.S. tour
As they were heading to the reception, Kate stopped to talk to 6-year-old Blake Zarkowsky, who was there with her parents and grandparents.
“I love your shoes and socks,” Kate told her. “They look very Christmas-y.”
William spoke to the crowd, and then he and Kate then headed to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to watch a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before the game, William asked which team to support, and was told to root for both. The couple was meeting NBA executives and former player Dikembe Mutombo, marking a collaboration that would help raise awareness about animal trafficking.
Next to Mutombo, William said, “At last I’m standing next to someone who is taller than me.”
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Associated Press writer Julie Pace in New York and Business Writer Tomoko A. Hosaka in Washington contributed to this report.
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