Visit ends solemnly

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 8

Visit ends solemnly

NZPA-AFP Washington

The Prince and Princess of Wales ended their threeday visit to Washington on a solemn note yesterday. He laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Diana visited a clinic for drug addicts. The Royal couple went to the United States military cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, where Prince Charles, in naval uniform, laid the wreath to mark Veterans Day (Armstice Day in other countries) and to pay tribute, he said, to American servicemen and women who “gave their lives for the cause of liberty.” v

Earlier the Princess went with Nancy Reagan, wife of the President, to visit a centre in nearby Springfield, Virginia, which treats and tries to rehabilitate drug addicts.

The women, who share an interest in the drugs problem, particularly among the young, heard a young girl speak of her fight against addiction. The Prince and Princess visited a chain store to give a Royal promotional boost to a “Best of Britain” exhibition there of British goods. Hundreds of onlookers applauded the Princess, who was bareheaded and dressed in white. - Asked what the future

King of England was doing selling merchandise, Prince Charles replied, “I don’t know if I can be described as a salesman, but I do try to create some interest in things British.” Later the Prince visited the Library of Congress, one of the biggest in the world, and sat in on a debate on the United States Constitution between lawyers and students.

The couple ended thenlast day with a gala dinner at the National Gallery. They are going to Florida today for a polo match — Prince Charles is a keen polo player — and will attend a dinner and charity bag