America's royal invasion

America is preparing for a royal invasion.

HRH Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth, will be in Washington DC next week and, next month, Prince William and his new wife Catherine will be in California for a three-day visit.

Edward will be feted by several lawmakers at the Capitol Monday night for a reception for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which is program that helps young people develop leadership skills.

Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) will host the invitation-only event.

On Tuesday, Edward will be in Baltimore where he and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will announce which local organizations will participate in the program.

The award was established by Edward's father, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to positively influence the lives of America’s youth.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Clarence House released the itinerary for the upcoming California trip of William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The newly-weds will start the visit with an event supporting UK Trade Investment followed by a reception at the consul-general's residence in Los Angeles on Friday, July 8.

On Saturday, William will play in a charity polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo Club. That evening the two will attend a BAFTA event. William is president of the English version of the Academy of Motion Pictures and will address the audience.

The next day the two will visit Inner City Arts, which provides visual arts and performances to inner city children, followed by a event to support the reintegration of servicemen and women.