They have arrived! Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton landed in New York City’s JFK airport on Sunday, Dec. 7 a little after 4:30 p.m. ET.
Shortly after, the parents of Prince George arrived at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Pregnant-again Middleton wore a burgundy Seraphine coat over her dress on the chilly winter day.
“It’s good to be here,” William told the hotel’s managing director Giovanni Beretta before being escorted to his luxe suite complete with “wide window views of Central Park.” The hotel was a favorite of William’s late mother Priness Diana during her visits to the States in the ’90s.
The Empire State Building’s official Twitter handle shared a picture of the iconic Big Apple building, sporting the red, white, and blue of the Union Jack, writing, “We welcome Their #Royal Highnesses The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge by sparkling in red, white, and blue #RoyalVisitUSA.”
We welcome Their #Royal Highnesses The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge by sparkling in red, white & blue. #RoyalVisitUSA pic.twitter.com/o0tr84eKAI
— Empire State Bldg (@EmpireStateBldg) December 7, 2014
The pregnant Duchess, whose first-born son George has stayed at home for this visit, had no time to put her feet up after her transatlantic flight. Within the hour, the happy couple had done a full outfit change and emerged from their hotel to take a car to British media and marketing mogul Sir Martin Sorrell‘s Manhattan apartment for a private event for the American Friends of The Royal Foundation.
The Duchess looked radiant in a black, knee-length “Amara Lace Dress” by Beulah London with black Stuart Weitzman for Russell & Bromley “Power” pumps, and paused to wave at the crowds who cheered her departure from the hotel. Beulah is an ethical London fashion line which helps women, rescued from sex trafficking, have a sustainable livelihood.
The royals left the private dinner, hosted by Sorrell’s high-powered wife Christiana, at 10:30 p.m.
After a good night’s sleep in the $14,000-a-night hotel, on Monday, Dec. 8 William leaves behind his wife, traveling to Washington, D.C. where he will meet with both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House before speaking at the World Bank about illegal wildlife trafficking.
He will then fly back to NYC to attend a Brooklyn Nets basketball game at the Barclays Center. Beyonce and Jay Z are also supposed to attend the Net’s face-off against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers that evening.
