LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Britain`s Prince William and his new bride Catherine arrived in Los Angeles for a weekend of Hollywood witch and Californian sun, after a nine-day tour of Canada.
The 29-year-old is likewise due to play polo up the Pacific coast in Santa Barbara, and see an inner-city Skid Row project in downtown Los Angeles during the three-day stay, Catherine`s first ever travel to the United States.
The couple - she in a short-sleeved light-colored dress, he in drab blue suit and tie - were greeted by California Governor Jerry Brown and others after flying from Calgary, where they ended their Canadian tour.
Under bright West Coast sunshine, Catherine clutched a colorful bouquet of flowers as she and William chatted to dignitaries also including by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the British ambassador to the US, Sir Nigel Sheinwald.
From the airport they were whisked in a motorcade to Beverly Hills for a hi-tech investment forum, before heading to the British consul-general`s house for an open-air evening reception around a pool.
In the first house of the US public fascination with the young royals, crowds gathered to get a glance of them as they arrived at the hall in the upscale Hancock Park neighborhood, where they will continue for the weekend.
Officially, the Californian mini-tour will aim to "add to deepening and strengthening the multi-layered links between the United States and the United Kingdom," according to a British official briefing.
Unofficially, all eyes are on who they will see during the barely 48-hour delay in Los Angeles, which will include an evening promoting British film talent in Hollywood.
"They have had a fantastically successful trip to Canada and they will get a big welcome in California," said Sheinwald, shortly before they landed in Los Angeles.
"They will suffer a vast array of mass from the governor to people running in the projects of Skid Row. They will get a good shot of living in this division of California," he told the BBC.
On Saturday they pass up the seacoast for a charity polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, in aid of the American Friends of The Basis of Prince William and Prince Harry.
The prince - second in contrast to the British crown after his father Prince Charles, although tipped as more pop to succeed Queen Elizabeth II - will play, while Catherine, also 29, will present a quality to the victorious team.
On Saturday evening, they will see a black-tie dinner hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), of which William is president, at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
The aim of the case will be to open up-and-coming British actors a fortune to meet Hollywood movers and shakers.
Britain is well represented in LA, and there has been much guess that they could squeeze in meetings with David and Victoria Beckham - guests at their wedding - or Elton John, a close friend of William`s mother Diana.
On Sunday, they will see "Skid Row" in downtown to visit the Inner-City Arts school, a nonprofit academy that provides free classes in optical and performing arts to children from poor neighborhoods.
"We are beyond thrilled that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be spending a part of their brief sentence in Los Angeles with Inner-City Arts," said the group`s head Cynthia Harnisch.
Later Sunday they will see a job just for military veterans at Sony Studios in Culver City, before leaving Los Angeles to give to the United Kingdom after their 12-day north American trip.
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