Prince Charles, Camilla begin weekend trip to United States in Philadelphia, then head to New York

PHILADELPHIA -- Prince Charles and his wife Camilla shook hands with well-wishers outside Independence Hall on a frigid Saturday to kick off their first trip to the city where Americans declared their independence from British rule.

The Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, greeted long lines of gushing fans, mingling with them, accepting flowers and charming many in the crowd.

"She actually offered her hand to me," said Debbie Lefevre, 49, who gave the duchess flowers. "I was shocked."

The royal couple is on a two-day trip to the United States that focuses on youth development, urban renewal and environmental stewardship.

Prince Charles and Camilla met with the mayor, governor and other officials in the first of several scheduled public appearances.

As a park service ranger talked about the Liberty Bell, Camilla reached out and touched it, running her finger along the bell's storied crack.

The royal couple met with about 20 elementary school students, who presented the pair with a gift bag, including a water bottle with the logo of their school.

"It's lovely," Camilla told the children.

Camilla wore a periwinkle dress and a brown tweed overcoat with fur cuffs and a broach, along with pearls and pearl drop earrings. Prince Charles sported a navy suit with a red, blue and gold striped tie, and a dark overcoat.

After Independence Hall, the couple moved on to a reception with community leaders at the National Constitution Center.

Prince Charles and Camilla could be seen walking among 42 life-size bronze statues of the men present at the signing of the Constitution.

Sharon Thaler, 52, of Philadelphia, said she waited hours to glimpse royalty. When she met the prince, she said, he was quite surprised at how long she had been waiting in the cold.

"In that case, I hope you have a stiff drink waiting at the end of the day," she said he told her.

Also on the itinerary were stops in west Philadelphia, an area that is home to some of the city's poorer and more violent neighborhoods.

The couple planned visit a mural there titled "Reading: A Journey," one of 2,700 created by the city's Mural Arts Program, then meet community members and mural artists at a reception.

The couple also planned to stop at International House, a nonprofit organization housing nearly 400 students, scholars and interns from more than 65 nations. The duchess was to meet students while the prince attends a round-table discussion of urban renewal efforts in foreign countries.

A visit to the Academy of Music's 150th anniversary concert was scheduled for Saturday night.

On Sunday, the prince and duchess plan to attend services at Arch Street Presbyterian Church, spiritual home of the Welsh community in Philadelphia.

The couple are then scheduled to take a private train about 90 miles to New York City, where they plan to visit a social services agency in Harlem and Prince Charles is to receive an award from Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment.

The prince and duchess last came to the United States in November 2005, when they visited the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.