I'm writing this from the gate at JFK after a whirlwind day. Up at 3 am and on a flight out of D.C. at 6 am, I spent the day in New York, where the King and Queen rubbed shoulders with Big Apple royalty and shone a light on causes close to their hearts.
After a late night at the White House, they brushed off any residual jet lag to expand their charm offensive to the city that never sleeps – much like the travelling press pack. The King's twin speeches are still looming large in the headlines and earning widespread acclaim on both sides of the Pond.
Social media is awash with clips of his jokes, and on a visit to Harlem, one woman held onto his hand as she told him: "Thank you for your speech to Congress, we needed that." Smiling, he replied: "Well, I keep trying."
© Getty ImagesIt seems the King has fully stepped into his power, and his confidence and easy wit are now visible to a world that didn't always see it. The same goes for Queen Camilla. Yesterday, I got a chance to focus on her up close, joining her for an event at the New York Public Library.
You might recognise this extraordinary Bryant Park building from the big screen – or the small. It's been the backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, not least Sex and the City.
Fittingly, Carrie Bradshaw herself made an appearance yesterday, with actress Sarah Jessica Parker walking down the steps of Astor Hall with Camilla, echoing the scene in which she was stood up by Big on what was supposed to be their wedding day.
© Getty ImagesWhich got me thinking…New York is a city with a long memory. As I sat writing up the engagement in a cafe earlier today, I got chatting to a local man, who heard a British accent and, unprompted, shared his memories of seeing the late Diana, Princess of Wales, just a few blocks away.
Her visits to the city and stays at the Carlyle Hotel are clearly imprinted in the memory of those old enough to remember. Inevitably, that may have coloured some views of Charles and Camilla over the years.
See King Charles' state dinner speech below...
The sad story of the breakdown of their first marriages has been reinvigorated in recent years by shows such as The Crown and in no end of documentaries and books. Meanwhile, Prince Harry's scathing take on his relationship with his stepmother in Spare has certainly not helped. Of course, nothing will diminish the memory of Diana, who was so well-loved the world over.
But in the UK, the public has had more than two decades to get to know Queen Camilla, and in that time, she has won over a legion of admirers. Her calm, common-sense approach, loyalty and sense of fun are strengths people have come to know and respect.
Crucially, anyone can see how happy the King is with her at his side. After 21 years of marriage, most people recognise that this is a true love match and one that has brought Charles contentment and given him encouragement through some huge challenges, particularly in recent years.
The feeling I got from guests at yesterday's engagement was one of immense warmth, respect, and appreciation for Camilla, which has not always been a given.
It helped, of course, that she was joined at the event hosted by her Queen's Reading Room charity by high-profile friends, including New York royalty SJP, Dame Anna Wintour and NBC host and journalist Jenna Bush Hager.
© Getty ImagesBut I also watched her chatting to representatives of charities and organisations supporting survivors of domestic abuse, away from the crowds and the famous faces. And I saw how much it meant to them to have their work recognised by a member of the royal family.
Camilla has proved herself, not only because of her successful marriage to our monarch, but also because of her genuine commitment to causes she cares about.
For more than a decade, she has supported survivors of domestic abuse, and as a result, her interest and concern are recognised by people in that field as totally authentic. Likewise, her interest in literacy is genuine. A certified bookworm, Queen Camilla has befriended authors and readers alike because of their shared passion for the written word.
© Getty ImagesShe could not have found herself in better company yesterday, surrounded as she was by leading figures from the city's cultural scene.
As Sarah Jessica Parker told me: "To have her shine a spotlight on reading and the relationship between a reader and a book and how it changes lives and enriches lives and cultivates empathy and curiosity, I'm so grateful. And from Her Majesty, it means a great deal."
And just like that, we are three days down, and many hours short on sleep, but with a fun day ahead to look forward to in rural Virginia.
I will be covering it for Hello throughout the week and sharing my analysis and opinions with VIP subscribers
