As Kate Middleton and Prince William make the final preparations for their whirlwind three-day tour of America, some people are wondering how they will fit all of their royal engagements into such a short period of time.
Other questions have also been raised, such as, how will the Duchess manage the strenuous trip, being that she is more than a few months pregnant, and has just recently recovered from a serious bout of morning sickness?
Nevertheless, the young royal couple are coming stateside, and by all accounts have a fantastic tour planned, which is intended to mix diplomacy with supporting their favorite causes, as well as promoting British business interests.
For Prince William, the main part of the trip will be his scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, where he will talk about illegal wildlife trading, an issue close to the prince’s heart.
Robert Jobson, author of The New Royal Family , told AFP reporters that, in terms of diplomacy, this trip is a vital one for Prince William. “It’s a significant trip which is trying to establish William further in a diplomatic, statesmanlike role,” he said.
Jobson also told reporters that palace officials were keen to balance the spotlight for the royal couple, without making the trip “all about Kate.”
“They don’t simply want it to be dominated by the Kate factor. They’re trying to keep William and Kate’s programme designed carefully so that she doesn’t upstage him everywhere he goes, because British and other media seem to be obsessed with what Kate wears and the baby bump. They’ve obviously got a more serious agenda, which is that this is the future king meeting the president of the United States and entering the special relationship.”
This royal visit marks the first time that Kate Middleton and Prince William have been to New York or Washington. Many commentators recognize the importance of the visit, both in terms of U.S-U.K. relations, as well as bolstering the couple’s royal image in America.
