Royals have full 1st day of US visit

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Britain’s Prince William sat down with President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday and unveiled an effort to curtail illegal wildlife trading while his wife, Kate, made an impression of a down-to-earth duchess on preschoolers and prominent British expats in New York.

In the first full — very full — day of the popular royal couple’s first visit to either place, William went to the White House and spoke at a World Bank conference. Kate wrapped Christmas gifts and helped children decorate picture frames while touring a child-development center with New York City’s first lady, then talked technology, theater and more with a British-success-story guest list at a lunch at the consul general’s home.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on their first official trip to the U.S. since 2011.

The royals also attended an early evening reception highlighting wildlife conservation efforts with former U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

They later attended an NBA game, arriving at their seats early in the second half of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Brooklyn Nets.