Charles, Diana Go on Shopping Tour, End Capital Visit

Capping their stay in the nation’s capital, Prince Charles and his wife, Diana, paid a visit Monday to Washington suburbia, where they mingled with 6,000 adoring fans at a J.C. Penney store, gazed quizzically at a 2 1/2-ton Rolls-Royce perched on four Wedgwood teacups and stirred a royal fuss by browsing through maternity clothes.

The shopping tour began a day that continued on a somber note as the royal couple laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and Diana visited a drug rehabilitation center with Nancy Reagan.

The prince and princess, who travel today to Palm Beach, Fla., ended their tour of Washington with a black-tie dinner at the National Gallery of Art, where guests included justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton.

After a 15-mile drive from the British Embassy, Charles and Diana conducted an hourlong inspection of the Springfield, Va., Penney’s store, which was stocked with some of the $50 million in British merchandise that Penney’s has purchased for its “Best of Britain” promotion.

Diana, wearing a cream-colored suit with a jabot front, a wine blouse--and what appeared to be no stockings--accompanied her husband as they toured the store, where bouquets of red roses had been set out and replicas of the crown jewels were displayed.

As the couple stopped in the men’s wear department, the princess asked Jim Bradford, president of Nashville-based Daks U.S.A., “Do you have any double-breasted suits?”

‘I Was So Excited’

When Bradford replied that there were none in the Penney’s collection, Diana pointed to her husband’s attire and persisted, “Don’t you think the double-breasted suit is more flattering?”

After quickly agreeing, Bradford added that he might consider one for himself as well as some new designs for next fall’s line--called perhaps “The Royal Collection.”

His eyes twinkling at the princess’ fashion sense, Bradford ventured that “there certainly will be a lot more double-breasted suits worn in the U.S. next year.”

Diana also stopped Jeff Rutledge, 26, of Hillcrest Heights, Md., to ask how he thought women looked in ties. “I didn’t know what to say, I was so excited,” he said later, adding that he opted for a single word: “Great.”

In another department, Charles and Diana seemed a bit puzzled by the white Rolls balanced precariously on four white Wedgwood cups.

Folk Quilt Purchased

“Is it china?” Charles asked, adding, “How are you going to get that thing off?” The car had been poised--after much breaking of teacups--by jacking up first its front end, then the rear.

The royal couple sent British reporters into a near-frenzy as several of them overheard on a security guard’s walkie-talkie that Charles and Diana had paused in the store’s maternity department--once again setting off speculation about whether she might be pregnant.

One British Embassy official sighed, “We thought that department was well out of view.”

“Both of them did stop,” said Jane States, a saleswoman in the department. “He admired a powder-blue ‘lady-in-waiting’ suit.” Store officials said later that the couple did not know at first where they were.

“There was a little chuckling” between the couple, States said, adding that after they were told the clothes were for expectant mothers, Charles still inquired about the price, which was $110.

But what really fascinated the royal eye, Penney’s officials said, were some $18-$25 pastel sweatshirts featuring cartoon characters, although the couple did not buy any. However, they left with a queen-sized American folk art quilt specially commissioned by Penney’s.

Outside, under a sea of white balloons handed out by the store, thousands of royalty-watchers cheered and screamed as the sleek silver Rolls-Royce carrying the couple arrived and departed.

One woman broke into tears when it appeared that she would not be able to give her flowers to Diana, but the princess ordered the departing auto to stop so she could accept the flowers through the open window.

At Library of Congress

After the Veterans Day wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery, Diana headed for a drug rehabilitation center in Virginia with Nancy Reagan.

The princess did not hesitate to ask questions during a “rap session” at the drug center, inquiring how the addicts had obtained money for drugs, if they felt “stronger” when they left the rigorous program--which often lasts more than a year--and if they had their families’ support and love.

“Do they praise you and tell you they love you?” asked the princess, who, like the American First Lady, has a special interest in drug problems among youths. “Because I think you need praise for going through that.”

The prince, meanwhile, spent more than an hour at the Library of Congress perusing James Madison’s notes on the Constitutional Convention and other documents with a small group that included Chief Justice Warren E. Burger; Daniel J. Boorstin, the librarian of Congress; Sen. Charles McC. Mathias (R-Md.); California Rep. Don Edwards (D-San Jose), and attorney Clark P. Clifford, a former secretary of defense and adviser to several Presidents.

Clifford remarked that if King George III had been as sensitive to American ideas as Charles is, “perhaps we would still be part of England.”

The group discussed the background of, and the reasons for the U.S. Constitution, as well as the two-term presidency, and they even chatted about bad advisers that kings and Presidents sometimes have.

“He was knowledgeable as an interested person and somebody who will have to take a large responsibility some day,” Edwards said afterward. “It was a great experience.”

Outside, Charles paused to talk with the crowd, accepting more flowers, including a lei of carnations from Hare Krishna member Michael McLaughlin of Philadelphia. As Charles left, he was asked if he is up for a scheduled game of polo today in Palm Beach.

He responded: “I’ll try to get fit. It’s always a problem.”