Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, laid flowers Tuesday at one of New York City's most somber sites - the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum.
The royal couple crossed the memorial plaza in pouring rain and wind, each holding a black umbrella. Wearing a fuchsia coat, black tights and high heels, Kate smiled as she spoke with memorial and museum President Joe Daniels before the royals laid a bouquet at one of two reflecting pools built in the footprints of the fallen towers.
Each is ringed with the chiseled names of the nearly 2,900 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
After paying their respects at the southern pool, William and Kate entered the underground museum that commemorates the attacks.
Before leaving the site, William and Kate admired the massive, marble-clad lobby of 1 World Trade Center, graced by a large Christmas tree. The recently completed 104-floor skyscraper is America's tallest building.
A handful of onlookers braved the wet weather for a glimpse of the royals.
"I love them so much," said Kristina Crossan, a 24-year-old teacher from Edison, New Jersey. Her mother, Marianne Crossan, called the rain "a small price to pay."
The morning visit to the site where 67 British citizens died - the most of any foreign country - came on the last day of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's trip. Their visit to New York and his to Washington was the first time either of them has visited those cities.
Ariana Lesko, a 19-year-old student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, said Kate "was just a regular girl" before marrying William. "She's just so down to earth and I think it gives the rest of us normal girls some hope."
On Tuesday evening, William and Kate were expected at a black-tie fundraiser for the University of St. Andrews, where they both got their degrees.
On Monday, William went to the White House and spoke at a World Bank conference. Kate wrapped Christmas gifts and helped children decorate picture frames while touring a child development center.
On Monday evening, the couple attended a reception at the British consul general's residence co-hosted by the Royal Foundation and the Clinton Foundation. When they arrived, they spent some time talking with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky.
William and Kate then headed to the Barclays Center to watch a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before the game, William asked which team he should support, and was told to root for both. The couple met NBA executives and former player Dikembe Mutombo, marking a collaboration that would help raise awareness about animal trafficking.
Next to Mutombo, William said, "At last I'm standing next to someone who is taller than me."