UK royal couple caps N. America tour with visit to Calif. job fair
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Xinhua, July 11, 2011
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrapped up their whirlwind tour to Southern California Sunday afternoon after attending a job fair for veterans.
The royal couple William and Kate's departed from the Los Angeles International Airport for home, ending their first visit to Canada and the United States in an official capacity. The 12-day trip was also the new bride's first visit to North America.
Upon their arrival in Los Angeles Friday, the newlyweds attended Variety magazine's Venture Capital & New Media Summit at the Beverly Hilton and a reception at the British Consul-General's home in Hancock Park. Hundreds of well-wishers swarmed around police barricades to catch a glimpse of the couple.
The royals started their next-day visit to Southern California with a charity polo match in Carpinteria, where Prince William and his team won a Tiffany & Co. trophy as well as a passionate kiss from his bride.
After the match, the couple attended a black-tie dinner held by British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BASTA) honoring the up-and-coming British actors, directors and producers.
"I'd like to thank Colin Firth for my opening line: I have a voice," Prince William said, referring to the Academy Award-winning movie "The King's Speech." Firth played William's great-grandfather, King George VI, who used to stammer yet became the monarch of the United Kingdom at the outbreak of World War II.
The prince also encouraged filmmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to continue working together, because "when British and American creative talent gets together, magic happens."
A slew of Hollywood A-listers including Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Barbra Streisand, as well as industry titans like the co-founder and producer of Miramax Harvey Weinstein, were among some 300 guests who joined the event.
On the early Sunday morning, the royals greeted well-wishers outside the British consul general's home in Hancock Park. The couple then attended a swanky reception in Beverly Hills to raise money for Tusk Trust, an African conservation group sponsoring 40 projects over 17 countries across Africa.
Later, Prince William and his bride visited Inner-City Arts and painted with kids who took part in programs at the downtown facility.
The facility was set up by artist Bob Bates and entrepreneur Irwin Jaeger in 1989 after public schools in Los Angeles eliminated arts programs. It has become one of the best-known partnerships by providing the poor and the inner-city students with education in fine arts, music, theater and dance.
At the couple's last event on California tour, the prince reiterated his support for military members and their families when addressing at a job fair for veterans on the Sony Pictures Studio lot in Culver City, saying that mission serve is not merely about men and women in uniform.
"It's about our other halves -- the half that makes their loved one's duty and sacrifices possible and worthwhile," said Prince William.
William and Kate began their first overseas tour as married couple on June 30 visiting Canada and California.
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