Bush greets Charles, Camilla

WASHINGTON — Prince Charles dryly pronounced himself "still here" and "alive" Wednesday on his arrival at the White House for a visit showing off his new bride, Camilla. The Duchess of Cornwall, hoping to impress American Diana-philes on her first overseas trip as a British royal, was decidedly more enthusiastic.

Greeted by President Bush and his wife, Laura, with a no-pomp welcome, the all-smiles Camilla could be heard declaring something Mrs. Bush said was "fabulous." As the foursome headed inside for an intimate lunch, Camilla briefly lagged behind, straying off the red carpet and showing the jostling media horde a shy grin and a little wave.

There was no shortage of pageantry for the royal couple in the evening. A rare White House black-tie evening featured buffalo for dinner, music by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and dancing with several dozen luminaries from the worlds of politics, history, writing, diplomacy and sports — but few high-wattage celebrities.

Bush toasted the royal couple before dinner, saying their visit was a "reminder of the unique and enduring bond between the United Kingdom and the United States."

"The people of the United States draw a lot of strength from having the United Kingdom as an ally," Bush said in an apparent reference to British support for the president's decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003.

In return, Charles quoted former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as once saying that the friendliness of Americans toward British travelers was "something to marvel at."

"Well, nothing has changed, Mr. President," the prince said.

With an American tour that began Tuesday in New York, Charles and Camilla were looking to stoke trans-Atlantic enthusiasm for their new marriage. Camilla was long reviled in the British press as the woman who broke up Princess Diana's marriage to Charles, but has begun gaining acceptance with increasingly high-profile appearances since the longtime loves wed in April.

Bush had something to gain as well. With the recent indictment of a top-level aide and the Iraq war among the troubles rocking his White House, a day feting royalty and underlining U.S.-British ties provided a welcome change of subject.

The visit invited comparisons to Charles' 1985 U.S. trip with Diana. Then, the young princess wowed America with her demure smiles, fashion sense and well-remembered turn around the White House dance floor with John Travolta.