Royal Tour: Will And Kate To Visit Skid Row, Help Military Kids On U.S. Trip

Prince William and Catherine are anything but ivory tower charitable givers. During their U.S. visit, the couple will be boots-on-the-ground volunteers and fundraisers, focusing on personally connecting with those whom they seek to help.

The couple has made it clear that giving is a huge part of their life's work together. Just as the two used their wedding day to raise £996,046 or $1.6 million for 26 charities, the couple will draw attention to and raise money for both major and lesser-known charities during their three days in Los Angeles. The two will land Friday after having visited seven cities in Canada.

On Saturday, Prince William and Catherine will host a charity meal and polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, the Associated Press reports.

The 1,000 tickets helped to raise $4.4 million for Will's charitable foundation, The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which focuses on youth, the environment and armed forces. On his site, Prince William is quoted as saying:

"...both our father and our mother instilled in us, from the word go, that with these great privileges goes an absolute responsibility to give back."

The couple will later attend the job fair "Hiring Our Heroes Los Angeles" for vets and their families. The event is a collaboration between Service Nation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Will and Kate will also help to create 1,000 care packages for military children, in conjunction with Blue Star Families and the USO, according to USA Today.

To end their trip, the royal couple will visit downtown Los Angeles's Skid Row -- congested with tents and cardboard boxes that the homeless call home, the Associated Press reports. The couple will visit Inner-City Arts, a nonprofit in the heart of Skid Row that gives disadvantaged children free classes in the arts. Dance troupe member Jessica Cornejo, 19, will be performing for the couple, and she tells the AP why their visit is so important:

"This is what's going on outside their castle. They're going to get a taste of what life is like for us. It's the best way to end that royal trip."

CORRECTION: This post originally stated the royal couple arrived in America on Wednesday and would attend the polo match on Thursday. According to the Associated Press, they are due to arrive on Friday and will attend the polo match on Saturday.

Comments

[Brill Opad]

10:40 PM on 07/07/2011

It seems like a bit of a sticky wicket ,,but do try to keep a stiff upper lip dear boy and press on for no matter how much good you try to do ,, the soggy crumpets will always denigrate all good works

[temenos]

08:36 PM on 07/07/2011

The royals are not the first Brits to dedicate time to assisting the poor in the US:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7420744.stm

[langleyxpz]

05:34 PM on 07/07/2011

They don't get any "stuffier" than Charles and Camillia.Just listening to Charles speak,I need to open a window.

[MikeDu]

01:29 PM on 07/07/2011

Will certain looks like his father, the palace stablehand.

[Whistlejackett]

06:17 AM on 07/07/2011

So far Will and Kate are visiting the G8 nations. This could be to get backing and support before they enter a 3rd world phase. Failure is not on their minds. So far in Canada they have begun a self awareness lesson concerning poverty and the less fortunate. I hope LA will focus on their importance rather than their already established Monarchy.

[sarahinez]

09:02 PM on 07/06/2011

Somehow I think we should be ashamed that foreigners come to our country and raise money and pack goodies for the poor and needy. Where are our citizens that could be doing this?

[deans2cents]

09:19 PM on 07/06/2011

Our citizens are the ones now unemployed, those with no health care, homeless cause the bank foreclosed, and hungry cause it is hard to cook in a park! This is america today...or the ones paying 10000 dollars so they can say they were in the same room as wils!

[greysells2]

10:29 AM on 07/07/2011

This a little like taxing the rich to give to the poor. And exactly what the graduated income tax does. Why? Because the rich can afford it. The poor and working poor cannot. If the poor and working poor have more money, they will spend it, all of it.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

05:07 PM on 07/11/2011

We're too busy giving American tax dollars to third world countries while we are becoming one.

[leorangerie]

05:55 PM on 07/06/2011

What a breath of a fresh air, after Charles and Camillia.

[rlugbill]

04:35 PM on 07/06/2011

I'm glad they are helping charity causes, especially those that help the poor and needy. I'm sure that lots of charities are knocking on their door and they seem to choose those that are important and really help contribute to needy people's lives.

It is an embarrassment to our country that we don't take care of our own better than we do and foreign assistance is needed. We aren't in the third world, but parts of American look like it. I'm glad they are helping.

[Catriona]

04:50 PM on 07/06/2011

As a British taxpayer I resent our having to foot the bill so our royals can raise money for the poor of the richest country in the world.

There are many people in our own country who need the assistance. Raise your godd@mn taxes on the rich and put in a social safety net. We did.

[terrillterry]

06:03 PM on 07/06/2011

This American doesn't disagree with you nor would some of our founding fathers.

[bbackin20min]

06:15 PM on 07/06/2011

As a British taxpayer, you need to suck it up and keep a stiff upper lip. That all comes with having a monarchy. If you don't like it, come join us and save the trouble of starting your own revolution. Did I forget to wish you a happy 4th of July?
Remember you British taxpayers caused trouble all over the Globe and lived off the backs of an empire where the sun never set. Boston Tea Party, the Stamp Tax, burnt down D.C. kidnapped our Irish sailors, invaded Ireland, taxed them to build your churches, starved them during the potato famine, started the slave trade, started the Crusades, persecuted the Catholics during the reign of King Henry VIII, invaded the Falklands, sold opium to the Chinese, caused the troubles in Belfast, started those penal colonies in Australia, created the conflict with the Boars in Southern Africa, and after all that, we helped bail you out when the Germans came calling. Our men fought and died on the shores of Normandy because this great British Empire couldn't protect itself. And we are still there today propping up NATO because the British taxpayers don't pull their weight. Well, this Yankee taxpayer thinks that enough is enough. You are a sniveling little troll who can't seem to remember all of the untold treasure that us taxpayers have spent on a country that had crapped on us from the git go. Enough is enough, I say. God Shave The Queen.

[beattielasvegas]

04:20 PM on 07/06/2011

Consider giving funds to service dog school:

http;//www.guidingeyes.orgi

This is a awesome school helping blind,autism,disabilities with dogs.

[saywha]

04:01 PM on 07/06/2011

She should gain a few pounds,,,and I don't mean currency.

[Red45]

03:49 PM on 07/06/2011

I love these people, both of them. Their whole lives will be a testament to his and her parents who instilled these values in them. And they will pass it on to their children. Love these people.

[jefe]

03:41 PM on 07/06/2011

Will they self destruct within a year? Two?

[falco]

02:46 PM on 07/06/2011

They give with one hand and take with another. Their giving gets more press. Why? Their buds own the newspapers.

[Red45]

03:53 PM on 07/06/2011

What are they "taking"?

[Steamboater]

02:44 PM on 07/06/2011

Sure these two can do a volunteer work. They have plenty of time on their hands to do it. It's nice to fund raise but when you're on the dole from the British public and at such great expense, how much is coming out thsee royal's pockets?

[Catriona]

04:54 PM on 07/06/2011

This is work. What they are doing is no one's idea of fun. In any case William has a job with our (the British) military, flying air-sea rescue helicopters.

[Steamboater]

05:33 PM on 07/06/2011

How many men and women are in the military who also get checks from the people?And please, traveling around the world and showing up for a an hour or two to raise money that doesn't come from your pocket isn't exactly a chore.

[ohjodi]

07:33 AM on 07/11/2011

William earns from his military duty, also tens of millions from his inheritance from Diana, and an income from the Prince of Wales Dutchy/farm which is not owned by the crown or the state, but by the Prince of Wales. The royals also pay all income taxes on their money.

The money the royals bring to the UK from tourism dollars is actually priceless. Most tourists don't care about empty palaces, castles, and unworn crowns. Tourists love "living history". The crown jewels are stunning, but it's even more exciting to know that the queen dusts them off and wears them now and then.

And while the royals do get to travel the world, their time is never their own, they have little privacy, and have to show up for an ungodly number of events whether they like it or not. They can't pursue any careers or lifestyles they want......they have to be "appropriate".

And Kate has been chased for ten years by the press, and her family will forever be under a microscope.

While it's not a bad job, they should be given credit for all that it entails.

[Southrnbelle]

02:34 PM on 07/06/2011

I greatly admire their work, however, I consider it embarassing that members of the British Royal Family feel the need to support charities in the United States of America.

Why can't we take care of our own???

[dennis1943]

02:44 PM on 07/06/2011

We don't seem to be doing a very good job................

[Bobzmcishl]

03:09 PM on 07/06/2011

I fear too many of our fellow American's really do believe in the "you're own your own" society promoted by the Ayn Rand Tea Party types.

[Red45]

03:55 PM on 07/06/2011

Her dream, in reality, is our nightmare. f+f