Camilla Makes a Splash in Her U.S. Debut

Nov. 2, 2005 — -- Americans supposedly don't give a hoot about Camilla making her debut in the United States along with hubby Prince Charles, but that wasn't so on Tuesday as crowds cheered the Royal couple on their first public visit to New York city.

Running about 20 minutes behind schedule, Charles and his new wife stepped out of their black limousine and greeted the crowds behind police barricades, surprising most of the onlookers who amassed on a street corner hours before to catch a glimpse of the English celebs.

Once the glad-handing ended and the "of the people" moment was over, Charles and Camilla got back to business and headed toward the British Memorial Garden, built in memory of the 67 U.K. citizens killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The couple had just come from the World Trade Center site and were now facing the deluge of press waiting for them at the garden.

Finally, the mass of journalists got a good glimpse of Camilla -- the main reason so many ventured to Hanover Square, steps away from Wall Street, for the ceremony.

Wearing a fuchsia-colored dress suit with velvet trim and a triple-beaded pearl choker with red stones, the Duchess of Cornwall looked stunning. Sadly enough, no tiara or crazy hats. Camilla's horde of stylists, it seems, advised her that plumes, half-birds and other head accoutrements weren't such a good idea in the land of the free and the brave.

She smiled incessantly and occasionally glimpsed over at the photographers who kept calling out "Mam, Mam."

"This is the nearest thing that we've got to soap stars," explained Stephen Bates, a reporter for the British newspaper The Guardian, adding that a bit too much has been done over whether Camilla can replace the late Princess Diana.

"Americans will never let go of Diana, regardless of the cheers," said royal watcher Andra Varin.

"It's interesting to see the comparisons flying around about this visit compared to Prince Charles last visit with his late wife, Diana, in 1985," said Julide Tanriverdi, the New York correspondent for the German magazine Gala. She said it was a good sign that no tomatoes were thrown, adding that Americans seemed to be rooting for Camilla.

After all, Charles' new wife has come a long way lately, making quite a splash with the overhaul of her wardrobe. Critical British tabloids even called the Duchess' fashion sense "Camilla chic." And it's now no secret that she brought enough outfits to last her months in the United States.

Her feminine, yet bold, dark rose suit ensemble screamed: "Take note of me!" and New Yorkers did.

"She was much prettier than I thought," said Grace Fonseca, 28, who was touched by the couple's easygoing manner during their walkabout before the ceremony."I expected them to be very stiff."

Camilla kept smiling and despite the chilly air, her dirty blond coiffure never went astray.

Getting a glimpse of the royal couple was no easy task, even for the pack of inquiring press. For security reasons, journalists had to show up three and a half hours before their scheduled appearance. Camilla and Charles' chartered plane was probably flying over Newfoundland by the time the press corps flashed its fancy badges to the sniffing dogs and burly State Department personnel, remarked a BBC radio reporter.

Like the crowds out on the street, journalists were also herded behind barricades in a holding pen.

"There's a lot of hanging around with brief glimpses," explained Bates about the royal beat. "We don't get to talk to them, that would be much too matey."

With no bathroom or coffee in sight, journalists just ended up comparing notes about an event that had yet to happen. "You need a strong bladder if you're a member of the royal family or a member of the press covering the royals," said royal reporter Judy Wade, wishing she hadn't drank gallons of tea.

Once the heir to the British throne arrived accompanied by his "darling wife," the press corps was shaking not because of nervousness, but because they were freezing.

All that waiting and there was no ribbon-cutting or champagne corks popping, not even a speech. The couple unveiled a rather simple-looking stone sculpture and walked around the kerchief-sized garden with trimmed bushes in wooden planters.

Journalists who hadn't been satisfied with their 10 minutes with the royals had another chance to "hang out" with the couple later on at the Museum of Modern Art.

Camilla showed some skin but no plunging necklines, going with a matronly, royal blue, ankle-length, velvet dress with a poncho-like top.

She later ditched the poncho, showing off another pearl necklace.

The British press kept badgering American journalists about whether or not Robert De Niro was going to show. They were keen on seeing Hollywood stars and sadly enough, the pickings were slim. No one could name Matthew Modine's last film and Joan Collins' glued-on black dress looked fabulous, but "Where were the 'Sex and the City' stars?," they asked.

The only lady in the house with a hat happened to be Yoko Ono, who sported a conservative black straw hat tilted to one side.

No word on whether it's Camilla chic.

The royal couple left the Big Apple for the capital to pay their respects to President Bush. She'll have plenty of clothes to choose from: Camilla's supposedly got 48 outfits left in the many pieces of luggage she brought with her.