Prince Harry made it a whole two days in New York without messing up once. The New York visit, on Friday and Saturday, was Harry’s first official state visit, and Harry revealed that he chose New York City because the city meant so much to his mother, Princess Diana. The royal schedulers kept Harry moving around constantly, and he carried out, by my count, six royal appearances plus a polo match. Even though being a prince is Harry’s “job,” I’d still like to give him a little round of applause for making it through the trip without any gaffes. As a matter of fact, he seemed to have been completely well-received by New Yorkers, and he seemed to love them right back.

The Daily Mail has a rundown of the major hits on Prince Harry’s tour, but they left out a couple of little appearances Harry made on Friday. MSNBC had coverage of Harry’s meeting with firefighters at the Manhattan firehouse across the street from Ground Zero (it houses Engine 10 and Ladder 10), and those guys seemed totally thrilled he was there. Guess who else love the Ginger Prince? Madonna and Jesus Luz, who made a public outing to the polo match. I wonder if Madonna did her fake English accent for Harry? Maybe she’s faking a Brazilian accent now:

Celebrities flocked to see Prince Harry play in a polo match in New York Saturday. Madonna and on/off lover Jesus Luz, actresses Kate Hudson and Chloe Sevigny and rapper LL Cool J were among the crowd at the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic. Designer Marc Jacobs was there too.

The prince hoped to raise £100,000 for the American Friends of Sentebale, the US arm of his charity that supports Aids orphans in Lesotho. Harry’s team won the match 6-5, and they celebrated afterwards by popping champagne.

Harry was casual in a navy blue blazer, an open-collared shirt and white jeans, and loafers. Members of the public were invited to watch the polo match, in which Harry would face off against the Argentine polo player and heartthrob Nacho Figueras.

Earlier, Prince Harry thrilled pupils at a New York community centre.

The 24-year-old Royal joined youngsters at Harlem Children’s Zone, which works with 8,000 disadvantaged children, in an energetic obstacle course.

Harry, whose father Prince Charles visited the centre two years ago, was accompanied by his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, co-founder of Harry’s children’s charity Sentebale.

On seeing the course, Harry exclaimed: ‘We have to do that!’ and set off on an impromptu race against the African prince.

After running through hurdles, Harry beat Prince Seeiso to grabbing a balloon and sitting on it, popping it loudly to finish the course and raising his arms in victory.

Speaking later, Harry vowed to continue his work for Sentebale – the New York trip is partly to raise funds for the charity, which cares for orphans in Lesotho.

He said: ‘It’s been a fantastic trip. Really, really worthwhile for Sentebale especially.’

During the fourth engagement of his two-day visit to New York, Harry also joined 13 pupils sitting a maths test. Harry, who stood at the back of the class, confided to 16-year-old pupil Brandon Black that he was always bottom of the class.

‘I was always the worst,’ he said as he tried to help with the test. ‘Which one’s easier, maths or science?’

‘Maths!’ replied Brandon, to which Harry grimaced and put his head in his hands.

The Prince proved a hit with the children, who had been awaiting the Royal visit for weeks. Khalil Davis, ten, who was preparing African rice as part of a Ugandan-themed meal, said: ‘Harry’s pretty cool. He’s helping people in Africa with Aids and HIV.’

Harry revealed that he chose New York to make his first official state visit because it was a city his mother loved. Diana visited a hospital in Harlem in 1989, where she was photographed holding a baby with Aids.

Harry said: ‘Prince Seeiso and I both lost our mothers when we were young. We set up Sentebale in their memory and, because my mother loved this city, it makes this occasion all the more poignant for me.’

Harry, who is training with the Army Air Corps, was given leave from his military duties to carry out the state visit.

The trip was paid for personally by the Queen, who is understood to have wanted to avoid taxpayers footing the bill in the current economic climate.

Harry began his engagements by keeping a minute’s silence as he laid a wreath at Ground Zero, before meeting families who had lost loved ones on 9/11.

In a handwritten note signed ‘Harry’, he said: ‘In respectful memory of those who lost their lives on Sept 11 2001 and in admiration of the courage shown by the people of this great city on that day.’

He also planted a magnolia tree in the British Garden at Hanover Square and visited the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan, meeting soldiers who had lost limbs in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he himself has served.

[From The Daily Mail]

All in all, a great trip for Harry and a great way to rehabilitate his image. In the past year alone, Harry’s caused so much grief after tapes were released of him using racial slurs. And that’s not even mentioning that old incident from 2005 with him in the Nazi uniform. But let’s not harp on about the past, Harry did a good job. He was solemn when he needed to be and charming when he needed to be. Much like Diana, I think Harry is really at home when he gets to be around kids. In another world – without royalty – Harry’s goal in life might be some kind of coach or teacher, he seems to enjoy being around kids so much. The palace should take note, and give him royal duties that have a lot of work with children. Here’s hoping.

Prince Harry is shown playing polo on 5/30/09. He is also shown at the official naming of the British Gardens at Hanover Square in New York on 5/29/09. Credit: Anthony Dixon / WENN.com