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  We welcome Their #Royal Highnesses The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge by sparkling in red, white & blue. #RoyalVisitUSA

  

  Dec. 8, 2014
• an hour ago

  

  The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Arrive In New York

  Samir Hussein (WireImage) via Getty Images on Sun Dec 07 2014

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  Lauren Tuck

  
• an hour ago

  Royal style: Kate Middleton is wearing a coat from Seraphine Maternity, a brand she has worn a lot of during her pregnancies. The piece was created exclusively for the expectant mother and she accessorized her look with a Stuart Weitzman clutch and black suede booties. Read more about her stylish looks here.

  • kes

  Lauren Tuck

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have landed in New York City!

Kate and William, who arrived in New York Sunday night, have a jam-packed schedule for their brief, three-day royal tour, with the hope that the trip will further strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

(Getty Images)

It’s an historic trip for the pair, as it’s the first time either of them has visited either New York or Washington D.C., where Prince William will meet with President Obama to discuss illegal wildlife trading — an issue close to his heart.

Of course, all eyes will be on the Duchess who is currently five months pregnant with the second royal baby as the world tries to catch a glimpse of her growing baby bump, but it’s clear the couple do not want her tummy to be the focus of the trip.

"They don't simply want it to be dominated by the Kate factor," according to Robert Jobson, author of "The New Royal Family."

"They're trying to keep William and Kate's program designed carefully so that she doesn't upstage him everywhere he goes, because British and other media seem to be obsessed with what Kate wears and the baby bump.”

This royal tour should provide a sharp contrast to that of William’s parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, who visited the U.S. nearly 30 years ago in 1985 — a trip that culminated in the now iconic images of Diana dancing with John Travolta at the White House.

"They've obviously got a more serious agenda, which is that this is the future king meeting the president of the United States and entering the special relationship," Jobson said.

Royals' agenda

The Duke and Duchess haven’t been to a non-Commonwealth country since their last trip stateside in 2011, when they visited Los Angeles at the end of a 12-day royal tour of the U.S. and Canada.

Today, while Prince William heads down to D.C. with former Foreign Secretary William Hague to meet the President, Kate will remain in NYC to visit the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem with the First Lady of New York, Chirlane McCray.

A prominent political figure and published author, the Duchess could learn a lot from McCray about the plight of disadvantaged New York children, as well as what a life of public service is like over the pond.

It’s the first time Kate has flown overseas while pregnant; while she was expecting Prince George, the Duchess didn’t venture any further than Scotland, perhaps due to suffering from acute morning sickness.

The 32-year-old was struck down with hyperemesis gravidarum at the start of this pregnancy too, but has made a speedy recovery and has been keen to perform her royal duties both home and abroad.

(Getty Images)

Unfortunately for fans of HRH Prince George, the royal couple decided to leave the 16-month-old at home with Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

While in the New York, the couple will also catch a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers where it is rumored they will meet Beyoncé and Jay Z, the other royal couple.

Kate and William will finish off their tour with a benefit dinner for St. Andrew’s University, their old alma mater where they met as undergrads back in 2001.