Yes, Princess ... Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, visits a preschool class at the Northside Center for Childhood Development in New York. Pic: AP Photo/Seth Wenig Source: AP

The four-year-olds at the Northside Centre for Child Development were told a princess was turning up and there was great excitement bordering on hysteria.

But in their minds there was surely only one royal about this Christmas and she is the doe-eyed white haired Elsa of Arendelle in flowing icicle-encrusted blue gown and the power to bring about an eternal winter as they had first-hand seen and sung — over-and-over-and-over- in Disney’s blockbuster flick Frozen.

The Duchess of Cambridge and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCraygreet guests at Northside Center for Child Development. Pic: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

But such was Kate’s equally powerful poise, grace and regal magical qualities she quickly won over the hordes of children and delighted the hundreds of adults who came to see the real-life princess albeit not Elsa in action.

“When they heard she was coming they thought it was Elsa; we said a princess and they got a princess and the children were thrilled,” the centre’s Rose Ann Harris enthused this week.

She wasn’t the only one. In arguably one of the bleakest weeks for the United States the duchess together with Prince William took America by storm in a whirlwind trip as keenly anticipated and attracting as much attention not seen since the days of Princess Diana two decades earlier.

Prince William and Kate take a tour of the lobby of One World Trade Center after a visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Pic: AP Photo/Shannon Stapleton Source: AP

It was only a few years ago some American press, notably the glossy magazines, were inventing stories of the royal couple such was their and their readers’ ignorance of the pair which they had invariably claimed in front cover splashes had split up, had suffered an “agonising” miscarriage (complete with a front cover photograph of Kate apparently wiping away tears), had quit the royal family to pursue love and had such a falling out with the Queen they both vowed to never take the throne.

This time around, there was more educated coverage preceding and during their visit and exactly what they represent and want to achieve through their roles.

And this trip’s press coverage was gushing and informed in their praise of the beautiful couple doing what they do best.

Kate shakes hands with Hillary Rodham Clinton while attending a reception with Prince William co-hosted by the Royal Foundation and the Clinton Foundation in New York. Pic: AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez Source: AP

No controversy, no negativity no awkward moments that perhaps are more common with their parents and grandparents and a 10-engagement tour the palace is marking as a success.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed their first visit to New York and Washington immensely,” a palace spokesman told News Corp Australia. “They were touched by the warm welcome they received from everyone they met and were grateful to have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on issues that are close to both their hearts, notably the illegal wildlife trade and the support for young people.”

Kate and Chirlane McCray, the first lady of New York City, receive flowers from Andrew, 5, left, and Mila, 6, before leaving the Northside Center for Childhood Development. Pic: AP Photo/Seth Wenig Source: AP

Perhaps it was the tone, purpose and venues chosen; it was the first visit by either of the royal highnesses to both New York and Washington DC in any capacity with their last Stateside visit being to California in 2011.

That trip too was hailed a success but was all a bit glitz and glamour with Hollywood star greetings and polo matches dominating.

This time there were visits to charitable groups to pursue initiatives the royal couple support in conservation, youth development, mental health, the disadvantaged and the creative sector.

Prince William holds an umbrella for his wife as she lays a wreath during a visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Pic: AP Photo/Jason DeCrow Source: AP

While the 32-year-old Kate spent the day with some of New York’s poorest children, Prince William was over in Washington having an audience with President Obama in the White House before the prince gave an impassioned speech at the World Bank denouncing the “insidious” illegal wildlife trade in things like ivory and other parts of endangered animals.

Royal observers noted it was one of the prince’s more powerful speeches, at which he announced a global task force to work with transport industries to cut off trafficking routes.

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Prince William in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Pic: Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

It was as forceful a message as his mother Lady Diana had delivered after she visited the White House in 1997 to talk about eradicating the scourge of landmines.

Indeed there were shades of Diana too in Kate’s visit to Harlem, where Diana had also visited to pursue her Aids causes 25 years earlier.

The couple also visited a New York youth organisation where they watched a performance by a reformed criminal.

William and Kate, who is nearly five months pregnant and was followed on her tour by an ambulance just in case, also hosted a lavish evening where 15 wealthy couple were charged $50,000 each to attend for the privilege with proceeds going to various charities.

Prince William and Kate depart from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Pic: AP Photo/John Minchillo Source: AP

The event was hosted by advertising mogul Sir Martin Sorrell and his wife at their mid-town Manhattan apartment. The couple also attended a basketball game where they met the game’s royalty, LeBron James, one of the best players in the world known affectionately as King James, as well as popsters Jay Z and Beyonce.

The royal tour concluded with a visit to the memorial at the former World Trade Centre dedicated to the those who died following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Prince William and Kate watch former Houston Rockets player Dikembe Mutombo joke with Cleveland Cavaliers' Brendan Haywood during an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets. Pic: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II Source: AP

Ironically that visit came about the time of huge publicity on a damning report by the US Congress which revealed in grim detail the CIA’s interrogation regimes during the War on Terror.

The saturation of negative publicity in the US preceding the report’s release, including US embassies about the world forced to high alert for fear of fallout, was only tempered by the positive royal visit.

It was New York own fairytale, albeit brief, but re-educated misgivings and confusions, even to Disney characters, and reaffirmed the maturity and future of the royal couple in the wider realm.