Royals on whirlwind US trip

On the second day of a whirlwind trip to the United States, Britain's Prince William met with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office Monday as his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, toured a child development center in New York.

In a meeting being hailed as a coup for the 32-year-old prince, the British royal discussed illegal wildlife trading with the American president. Obama is reportedly a big admirer of William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted America's first couple during a state visit in July 2011.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, toured a child development center in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem with Chirlane McCray, the wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Kate is five months pregnant with the couple's second child.

"Ready to talk mental health and child development with The Duchess of Cambridge," McCray tweeted as the two prepared to tour the facility.

"She reminds us of Princess Diana, humble, giving and looking out for the poor people," said 54-year-old Harlem resident Milagros Jimenez. "It's good for her to see how education for the low-income families helps, so that when they get older they get a good start."

William is also scheduled to meet with potential Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea at a conservation reception in New York.

The royal couple will reunite later in the evening in the Big Apple to take in an NBA game, where they will see four-time MVP LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Brooklyn Nets.

"You read about people like them only in books growing up," James said. "To hear that they're coming to town to see me play and they want to see me do what I do best, it's a huge honor."

The trip marks the first time either William or Kate have been to New York. They are staying at the same hotel - the Carlyle - where William's mother Diana used to stay, and where throngs of well-wishers gathered to greet the couple as they arrived on Sunday.

bw/es (AP, Reuters, AFP)