Royal couple wrap up U.S. tour

SAN FRANCISCO — It may not be a fairy-tale romance, but most people seem to agree that the prince is charming.

As Prince Charles and his new wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wrapped up their first U.S. tour together, the weeklong diplomatic mission and charm offensive seemed to have paid off. Among many Americans, the eco-friendly prince and the down-to-earth duchess were a hit.

"It's so nice to see a public figure speaking out for something good," said Ann Leonard, 41, waiting for the couple Monday outside a school in Berkeley, Calif., where they were inspecting an organic vegetable garden.

"It's a breath of fresh air," said Leonard, who had brought her 6-year-old daughter Dewi and a handmade sign declaring "Make gardens, not war."

Charles and Camilla were to fly back to Britain today after a trip intended to underscore trans-Atlantic ties, promote Charles' environmentalist causes and burnish the profile of the middle-aged royals, who married in April after an on-off relationship lasting more than 30 years.

Charles' Clarence House office said the prince and duchess were "delighted" with the reception they received on the trip, which included stops in New York, Washington, New Orleans and the Bay area.

The couple hobnobbed with stars including Sting and Yoko Ono in New York and had lunch and dinner with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the White House.

The once-frumpy Camilla swapped her tweeds for an array of designer dresses and glittering accessories — including a sequined Union Jack handbag.

But it was away from the centers of power — among schoolchildren, farmers and hurricane victims in New Orleans — that the tour took off.

A visit to see Hurricane Katrina's devastating aftermath lasted less than three hours but still attracted a large crowd of enthusiastic and grateful residents.

"I thanked him very much for remembering us, because we very much feel forgotten down here," said Dee de Montluzin, who greeted the couple in the city's French Quarter.

The prince's strong environmentalist message got a warm reception in California, where the couple lunched at an organic farm, visited two farmers markets and had a private dinner with leading foodie figures, including Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation."

At a farmers market in Marin County, north of San Francisco, stall-holders and shoppers looked on approvingly as Camilla heartily sampled much of the produce.

"She's really down-to-earth," said Wendy Earl, 58.