Los Angeles - Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine went to the gritty heart of one of the world's most affluent cities on Sunday with a tour of Skid Row, terminus for thousands of homeless people in downtown Los Angeles.
On the final day of their three-day visit to southern California, the royal couple was given a private tour of Skid Row where, they were told, the economic recession has pushed up the number of single mothers.
It was a late addition to the royal agenda and served as preparation for a visit to the Inner-City Arts Centre for children living around Skid Row, one of the largest concentrations of homeless people in the United States.
It was also a stark contrast to the opulent events on Saturday - a charity polo match in coastal Santa Barbara and a black-tie dinner with Hollywood royalty to promote emerging British talent.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on their first visit as a couple to the United States, have opted to prioritise charity and trade promotion over the glitzy, celebrity side of the entertainment capital of the world.
But even with the emphasis on work and business, William and Catherine brought a royal glamour that even Hollywood couldn't emulate.
At the bright and airy arts centre, Catherine, dressed in a navy lace top and white pleated skirt from UK retail chain Whistles, donned a smock and painted a snail along with the children. William, sans smock, appeared to paint something more abstract.
With all the charity work, however, celebrity was never far away, as the newlyweds networked to bring money and attention to their causes. At Saturday's gala, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Barbra Streisand were among the glitterati who turned out to support the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, of which William is president.
On Sunday morning, they attended a private brunch with Hollywood notables like actress Reese Witherspoon and the CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, to garner interest in Tusk, a charity for African wildlife conservation.
Their final stop on Sunday will be Sony Studios, but not for anything related to the film industry. The focus there will be military families and a job fair for returning servicemen and women - an area of interest for William, a Royal Air Force pilot. - Reuters