Charles and Camilla to visit Ground Zero

LONDON - Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, on their first official tour abroad since they married in April, start a week-long visit to the US at Ground Zero in New York today.

They will inaugurate a memorial garden for the British victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

They will also visit Washington to meet President George W. Bush for lunch and dinner on Wednesday.

A visit to hurricane-hit New Orleans is planned for Friday, followed on November 5 and 6 by a trip to California, where they will meet the homeless in San Francisco and talk to organic farmers.

Prince Charles will also meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and the couple will attend a dinner hosted by the British Consul General at the Museum of Modern Art.

"This is Camilla's biggest challenge in six months of marriage. She has got to make the Americans love her," said royal author Judy Wade.

But the late Princess Diana, with whom Charles toured the US 20 years ago, will be a hard act to follow.

"Diana had the combination of status and sex appeal which made her more starry than a movie star," said Wade. "Camilla scrubs up well but it takes an army of make-up artists and dress designers. Diana had it naturally."

The House of Windsor, once dubbed the country's most dysfunctional family after years of divorce, scandal and tragedy, are now playing happy families.

Evening Standard royal correspondent Robert Jobson, who broke the news of Charles' engagement to Camilla, said: "There is no comparison with Diana, a superstar in her own right.

"Charles and Camilla are seen as a double act with her in the supporting role. The biggest fear faced by the royal family is if there is no reaction - just apathy."

And the Queen - once so famously frosty towards the liaison - is definitely showing signs of warming to Camilla.

She lent Camilla a diamond-encrusted tiara for her first royal banquet at Buckingham Palace and the popular press is also coming round.

Tabloids had mercilessly mocked the long-time lovers in the chaotic run-up to their marriage but were full of praise as they splashed photos of Camilla in the tiara.

The Daily Mail hailed the "Queen of Diamonds" on its front page.

- REUTERS