Prince Charles Gets Environmental Award in Visit to New York

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Prince Charles chatted with students about investing in stocks, accepted an environmental award from Al Gore and even played a little basketball on his visit to New York City.

NEW YORK -- Prince Charles chatted with students about investing in stocks, accepted an environmental award from Al Gore and even played a little basketball on his visit to New York City.


The prince and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in New York from Philadelphia by private train Sunday and toured the Harlem Children's Zone, which operates the Promise Academy public school and a range of social services and programs dedicated to the betterment of Harlem.


The royal couple watched a group of 10 middle-school pupils evaluate stocks as part of an after-school program that teaches them about finances.


Pupil Tiffany Vargas, 13, asked Charles if his multimillion-dollar line of organic foods, Duchy Originals, was on the stock market.


"No," he told her, "it's still a private company. We haven't got quite to that stage yet."


Afterward, the couple went on a terrace giving them a panoramic view of Harlem. They then visited a health clinic where children, sitting at computers, learned about asthma.


Charles and Camilla watched a rehearsal of a scene from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and a basketball practice. Handed the ball, Charles dribbled and shot. His first attempt was an airball, but he made his second, drawing applause.


Arona Pratt, the mother of one of the players, said: "I think it's great. My son was up all night waiting for this. They looked much nicer in person than they do on TV."


On Sunday evening, Charles received an award for his work on behalf of the environment.


Former Vice President Al Gore presented Charles with the Global Environmental Citizen Award, given by the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. Gore, who praised the Prince of Wales' knowledge and passion, said he and the prince have had conversations about the global environment for 20 years.


The prince said he was "touched" at being honored, especially by Gore.


"We had great fun talking about all these issues long ago," the prince said. "I've been so fascinated watching his career, and to receive this award from him really has been a particular privilege but also immensely special."


While Charles has won kudos from environmentalists for his calls to action on global warming, British environmentalists have said the prince should have abstained from flying to the United States. In response, Charles' office said it would cancel a skiing trip to Switzerland, a gesture that would reduce his carbon footprint -- the carbon dioxide created by his travels.


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Associated Press writer Maryclaire Dale contributed to this report.


Source: Associated Press


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