Royal couple set to take States by storm during three-day trip

Highlights of William and Kate’s brief visit to the US include an appearance at an NBA basketball match, where they are likely to rub shoulders with celebrities, and a meeting for the Duke with president Barack Obama.

The royal couple also plan to pay their respects to the thousands who died during the 9/11 terrorist attacks by visiting the World Trade Centre’s Memorial and Museum.

Kensington Palace said: “The couple really are very much looking forward to all the special moments of the visit. They’ve been an integral part in planning it.”

The Cambridges will take their court-side seats at an NBA basketball game in the trendy New York suburb of Brooklyn and watch local team the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow night.

Seats so close to the action are priced at thousands of dollars but usually cannot be bought as they are prestige places for celebrity supporters like rapper Jay Z and his wife Beyonce.

The Duke and Duchess are both sporty and competitive and are likely to enjoy watching the towering sportsmen.

Before travelling to Brooklyn William will fly to Washington where he will have a meeting with Mr Obama at the White House and separate talks with vice president Joe Biden.

The Duke and the president will meet at the White House in Washington on Monday ahead of a major speech William will deliver, expected to be about the illegal wildlife trade, at the World Bank Group’s International Corruption Hunters Alliance Conference.

The two men last met in 2011 when Mr Obama made a state visit to Britain with his wife Michelle.

While William is attending events in Washington Kate will join Chirlane McCray, wife of New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, on a visit to a local child development centre.