March 18, 2015, London, England — At the request of the British Government, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will make a four day visit to the United States of America from 17th – 20th March, 2015. Their Royal Highnesses will undertake a broad range of engagements to promote the UK’s partnership with the United States in key areas such as sustainability and climate change, creating youth opportunities, encouraging corporate social responsibility and promoting historical and cultural links.

Today in Washington DC, The Prince of Wales and Global Ocean Commission Co-chairs, David Miliband and José María Figueres, will address a gathering of representatives from major companies, leading environmental organisations and government figures brought together to consider what action might be taken to address the growing threats posed by marine plastic waste. The event will take place at the Hay Adams hotel, Washington D.C.  The meeting, which is being convened by The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit and the Global Ocean Commission, aims to facilitate consensus and build momentum toward solutions on this growing challenge.

On the same day: The Duchess will visit the Shakespeare Theatre Company where Her Royal Highness will tour the theatre, meet staff, children who use the theatre and then view a short production by the company’s Text Alive! programme. The programme helps students and teachers to develop their knowledge and understanding of Shakespeare through a series of workshops. Students then apply what they learn through designing and rehearsing a scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays. In the evening Their Royal Highnesses will attend a dinner to thank donors and supporters of The Prince of Wales’s U.S. Foundation, hosted by Mrs Joe Albritton, Chairman of the Foundation.

On Thursday 19th March: The Prince will visit the Carlos Rosario Public Charter School, which provides education and training for the adult immigrant population of Washington, DC. The Prince will meet staff and students at the Harvard Street campus as he tours the literacy and cookery classes.

On 20th March in Kentucky: Their Royal Highnesses will attend a Cultural Festival hosted by the Governor of Kentucky and Mayor of Louisville at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage Center. The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Neighborhood House, which is a community center serving Portland, one of Louisville’s oldest and most diverse, but also most impoverished communities.

Her Royal Highness will also attend a reception for patrons and supporters of The Brooke USA at Churchill Downs. The Brooke is an international animal welfare organisation dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world’s poorest communities. They provide treatment, training and programmes around animal health and wellbeing, operating across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Duchess of Cornwall became the Brooke’s inaugural President in 2006. Her Royal Highness has visited the Brooke’s work in Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt, and has regularly attended events in the UK.

The Prince of Wales has visited the United States of America in an official capacity 19 times since 1970

The Prince of Wales’s last visit to the USA was in May 2011 when his programme included a call on President Obama at the White House and giving the keynote speech at a conference on sustainable agriculture at the Future for Food Conference at Georgetown University, Washington DC – http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/media/speeches/speech-hrh-the-prince-of-wales-the-future-food-conference-georgetown-university

The Duchess of Cornwall has visited the USA officially twice with The Prince Of Wales (2005 and 2007). Their Royal Highnesses’ visit to the USA in 2005 was their first official overseas tour conducted jointly as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.