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Charter school part of a visit to Harlem

NEW YORK - Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, visited Harlem yesterday, stopping at a charter school where they answered children's questions and the prince took some time to shoot hoops with a basketball team.

NEW YORK - Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, visited Harlem yesterday, stopping at a charter school where they answered children's questions and the prince took some time to shoot hoops with a basketball team.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in New York from Philadelphia by a private train, and visited the Harlem Children's Zone's Promise Academy.

At the academy, they visited an after-school program that teaches middle-school students about finances. The participants receive money if their virtual stock investments are successful, and don't lose any money if their picks tank.

Pupil Tiffany Vargas, 13, asked the prince if his multimillion-dollar line of organic foods, Duchy Originals, was on the stock market. "No," the prince told her, "it's still a private company. We haven't got quite to that stage yet."

They then visited a health clinic where children, sitting at computers, learned about asthma.

Charles and Camilla also watched a rehearsal for a Shakespearean play and a basketball practice. Charles, wearing a double-breasted blue suit, blue shirt and striped tie, attempted two shots. He missed the first but made the second, drawing applause.

"My son was up all night waiting for this," said Arona Pratt, the mother of one of the players. Pratt said Camilla, who wore a brown coat with a beaded collar and leopard-print cuffs, "is pretty."

Yesterday evening, Charles received an award for his work on behalf of the environment. Former Vice President Al Gore presented him with the Global Environmental Citizen Award, given by the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.

The prince said he was "touched" at being honored, especially by Gore.

"We had great fun talking about all these issues long ago," the prince said. "I've been so fascinated watching his career, and to receive this award from him really has been a particular privilege, but also immensely special."