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MoMA morphed into a celebrity madhouse last night, as Prince Charles introduced "my darling wife" Camilla to the carefully selected crowd of 300 New Yorkers - including Sting, Donald Trump, Yoko Ono and Henry Kissinger - at a gala museum, reception.
The well-heeled horde reached to the top of the museum's stairs, with starry-eyed celebs jockeying for position to rub elbows with the royals.
At one point, the tony throng balked at budging from its spot - even as security men politely asked the assorted stars and VIPs to move to the second-floor gallery, where drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served.
"A lot of people wanted to say hi to them," said designer Diane von Furstenberg, adding, "I think she [Camilla] was very attractive."
Ono - referring to the woman whom Princess Diana once dubbed "the Rottweiler" - said, "I really think she is a very, very sweet person."
The royal duo sipped champagne and munched organic canapés as they mingled.
Outside the museum, Queens residents Chirata Damu and her 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, joined about 100 fans anxious to catch a glimpse of the royals.
Damu said she named Elizabeth - who donned a special pink princess dress for the occasion - after Charles' mom, Queen Elizabeth II.
"I like her dress," the girl said, taking note of the duchess' blue, crushed-velvet frock with white frilled neckline.
Camilla and Charles beamed broadly as they were greeted by thunderous cheers from the crowd upon leaving. The fete capped the pair's whirlwind, one-day tour of the city, which included an emotional visit to Ground Zero.
While Camilla didn't exactly sweep many New Yorkers off their feet earlier in the day, she won over more than a few Di-hards with her warm smile and gracious demeanor.
"Actually, I liked her more than I thought I would," said Grace Fonseca, who shook hands with the duchess at downtown Hanover Square.
The royals were there to dedicate a garden planted in memory of the 67 Brits who died on 9/11.
"She was very warm, very friendly. She actually looks much better in person than the pictures that I've seen of her," said Fonseca, 28, of Manhattan.
Camilla, eager to win acceptance in a land of Di adorers, worked the crowd, at ease, effusive, ever smiling, and stylishly dressed in a dark rose Italian wool crepe jacket and dress with velvet chiffon trim - one of 50 outfits she brought along for her eight-day U.S. visit.
The royal visit began early in the afternoon when Charles, Camilla, their staff of 40 and their luggage touched down at JFK in their chartered Boeing 777.
The cost of the eight-day charter was $355,000.
They then had a true New York experience - their motorcade got stuck in traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway.
Once in Manhattan, they headed to Ground Zero for a private tour with Gov. Pataki.
"My wife and I were very moved," the prince later said.
From Ground Zero, the royals traveled by limo to nearby Hanover Square - named for King George I of Hanover - for the dedication of the memorial garden.
When one woman offered the prince "congratulations on your nuptials," he wryly replied, "Oh, you've heard."
Kristi Kent-Bracken, 45, had traveled from Madison, Wis., to see the royals - as she did for Charles and Princess Diana's state visit in 1985. She also went to England for Diana's funeral in 1997.
"There's no comparison," she said of Diana and Camilla. "But there's a lot of water under the bridge, and I wish her well."
New Yorker Eric Sachsenmier admitted, "I was a bit underwhelmed.
"She just seems ordinary, like a businesswoman or something," he said.
After a ceremony in the garden, HRH and his lady walked across the street to India House, an exclusive private club. There, they met with 30 relatives of British citizens who died in 9/11 attacks.
After the reception, the prince went to the United Nations for a meeting with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, while Camilla checked in at their hotel, The Carlyle on the Upper East Side, to prepare for the Museum of Modern Art gala.
Early today, they head to Washington, where they will join President and Mrs. Bush for a quiet lunch and elegant state dinner.
The prince is expected to use his face time with Dubya to preach tolerance of Islam. London newspapers report that Charles has privately voiced serious concerns about the supposedly confrontational way the United States has approached Muslim countries since 9/11.
Many Americans remain clueless about Camilla.
A correspondent for Britain's Daily Mirror showed a picture of the duchess - wearing a tiara - to passers-by in Times Square earlier this week by to see how many knew who she was.
Only one out of eight had an idea - sort of.
"It's Charlie's girl, Priscilla or something," was one answer.
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