在英国王储查尔斯携第二任妻子卡米拉即将访美之际，美国一项最新民意调查显示，该国公众对查尔斯夫妇此行的关注程度普遍偏低。

    据《今日美国》10月30日报道，查尔斯夫妇此行是他们今年4月结婚以来的首次正式出国访问。与大约20年前查尔斯携已故夫人戴安娜访美并引发美国人对“王子与公主”的巨大热情相比，此次8天的访问对于大多美国人来说却显得无足轻重。《今日美国》、美国有线新闻网和盖洛普民调的最新调查显示，在接受访问的美国人中，81％的人对此次访问毫不关心，仅有19％的人表示希望见到王储夫妇，甚至有30％的人表示更愿意看见王储与亡妻所生的哈里和威廉王子。

    住在美国中部密苏里州圣路易斯市的43岁妇女朱莉·斯金纳说：“我不认为美国人对英国王室有多么关心，除了对戴安娜以外。而现在，对戴安娜的怀念也少了。”王室传记作家、美国人基蒂·凯利说：“如今美国人仍会对英国王室感到某种好奇，但不再像从前那样着迷。”英国娱乐杂志《OK!》周刊的高级编辑鲁思·希尔顿甚至说， “如果美国影星汤姆·克鲁斯与未婚妻凯蒂·赫尔姆斯的婚礼安排在（王储夫妇到访的）同一天，那么将没有哪家媒体有空报道查尔斯与卡米拉来访的消息”。

    报道说，查尔斯行前认真审看了访问的每项安排，“甚至包括卡米拉的衣橱”，以避免媒体将其与戴安娜随意比较。王室传记作家罗伯特·莱西认为，卡米拉此行将必须证实她具备做王妃的“真材实料”，因此她也将面临巨大的压力。

    查尔斯此次访美的目的是要稳固与美国的“特殊关系”并对美国总统布什展示其个人魅力，此外还要为因伦敦7月连环爆炸案而蒙受打击的英国旅游业招揽游客。除了参加在白宫安排的活动外，王储夫妇的访问行程中还包括会见联合国秘书长安南和参观一个有机农场等活动。

    Do Americans still care about the British royals? Prince Charles and wife No. 2, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are about to find out.

    The newlyweds arrive in the USA Tuesday for an eight-day official visit of momentous importance for them and their government. But it's looking to be a ho-hum affair for most Americans.

    A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows that 81% of Americans surveyed aren't interested in the visit. Only 19% say they'd like to meet the couple; 30% say they'd rather meet Prince William and Prince Harry, Charles' sons with the late Princess Diana.

    "I don't think Americans ever really cared much about British royalty, with the exception of Diana, but even less so now," says Julie Skinner, 43, of St. Louis.

    This is the royal couple's first overseas trip together since they were married in April. It comes almost 20 years to the day after the prince brought Diana to the USA and monarchy madness broke out.

    "There's a curiosity factor, but not a fascination like there used to be," American royals biographer Kitty Kelley says.

    Camilla will be under pressure to look good and show she has the right stuff to be Charles' queen consort. "Nobody hopes that she falls on her face," royals biographer Robert Lacey says.

    Charles has overseen every detail of the trip, Kelley says, "including her wardrobe.

    There is no way he wants any unfavorable comparisons" to Diana. Officially, he is tasked by his government to polish the "special relationship" with America, charm Prime Minister Tony Blair's ally President Bush and persuade wary tourists to come back to the U.K.

    To that end, the couple will dine twice at the White House, which is unusual, and more so given Bush's disdain for parties and staying up late. Plus, Bush and the prince make an unlikely pair.