Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate arrived on Sunday for their first visit to New York City, a whirlwind trip that includes visits to a Harlem child development center and the September 11 Monument and Museum. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they have been officially known since their 2011 wedding, are coming at a time when the city is facing a nightly series of street protests against police violence.
The demonstrations, which have featured brief blockades of intersections and bridges, could disrupt traffic during the visit and may raise new security concerns even though there has been no major violence so far in New York. During the visit, the couple will part ways briefly when William heads to the White House on Monday to meet with President Barack Obama. The prince also is set to join a Washington conference on illegal trafficking of ivory and other animal contraband. New York City's first lady Chirlane McCray will escort Kate to meet youngsters at Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, which provides mental health and educational services to families living in high-risk neighbourhoods.