Prince Charles Receives Warm Virginia Welcome

Prince Charles, heckled at home for the embarrassing “Camillagate” sex scandal, won a rousing American welcome Saturday in his first overseas trip since the official collapse of his marriage.

Speaking to a crowd estimated at 10,000 in this Southern Colonial town, the heir to the British throne broke from his prepared speech in a visible show of joy at the impromptu cheers and thumping claps that greeted his appearance.

“I’m very touched, if I might say so,” Charles said at the College of William and Mary. “All I can say is that it’s wonderful to come to Virginia and receive such an incredibly warm and encouraging welcome. Thank you very much indeed.”

It was the first U.S. test of Charles’s popularity since December’s split from Princess Diana, who is held in far higher esteem in British opinion polls.

Their breakup followed publication of a saucy phone conversation said to be between Charles and married friend Camilla Parker-Bowles. Ever since, his public standing has crumbled at home, although ticket-holders to his 20-minute speech stood in line for up to six hours to see the king-in-waiting.

Charles was the keynote speaker for the college’s Charter Day celebrations. King William III and Queen Mary II granted a royal charter founding the school on Feb. 8, 1693.

Charles had lunch with students and was to later attend a small dinner in Washington hosted by Vice President Al Gore.

The prince was due to fly to Houston today before heading to Mexico for an official visit at the invitation of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.