William And Kate In New York For First Visit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in New York, and have a hectic three-day schedule for their first visit to the Big Apple.

The royal couple were greeted by cheering crowds when they arrived at the swanky Carlyle Hotel, where they will stay during their whistle-stop tour.

The top Manhattan hotel was where William's mother, Princess Diana, stayed when she visited the city in the 1980s.

Prince William will travel to Washington DC for a meeting in the Oval Office with President Barack Obama.

He's also expected to deliver remarks at the World Bank, highlighting efforts to fight illegal wildlife trafficking.

That leaves Kate to take on a number of solo engagements, including visiting the Northside Centre for Child Development in Harlem, which specialises in providing mental health and other services to disadvantaged children.

Centre director Dr Thelma Dye said: "We are so pleased, it is such an honour.

"For her to bring global recognition to the importance of children's mental health is thrilling and it helps us do our work even better.

"We've done a lot of research on protocol and the children are so excited."

In the classroom, some three-year-olds told me they would be happy to share their toys with "The Princess" as they call Kate, confiding they believed she lived in a "ginormous" castle, and would arrive wearing a big ball gown dress.

Prince William is expected to meet former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea at a conservation event when he returns to New York.

And with Prince George being looked after at home in the UK, the couple are due to attend an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and The Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Nets are part-owned by hip-hop star Jay Z who often attends games with his wife Beyonce.

There's also a planned visit to the 9/11 memorial, a trip to the top of the Empire State building and a night of high glamour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in honour of the couple's university, St Andrew's.

Wealthy New Yorkers have been clamouring for an invite and paying thousands of pounds per head at what's expected to be a star-studded bash.

Boutique maternity-wear designer Ariane Goldman told Sky News she'll be looking out for any trends sparked by the Duchess, who is around five months' pregnant.

"I think what Kate does that's fantastic is she's very true to herself and her own style, with a focus classic lines and elegant fabrics.

"I've never really seen Kate in pants (trousers), I'd really love to put her in a tuxedo look, I'd love to give her a bit of a New York-downtown edge."

Designer Rosie Pope agreed. She said: "She definitely sparks trends.

"Last time she was pregnant with Prince George people started asking for double breasted coats which hadn't even been a 'thing' in maternity up until then.

"She also wore some floral prints that were very quickly in high demand."