Will, Kate to head to Hollywood for red-carpet gala

LONDON — Prince William and the former Kate Middleton plan to combine red-carpet Hollywood glamour with serious charity work during a trip to California next month, palace officials said Wednesday.

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The three-day visit to the Los Angeles area will be Middleton's first visit to the United States.

It will follow a longer trip to Canada where the royal couple, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will celebrate Canada's national day in the capital, visit the remote Northwest Territories and open the Calgary Stampede. It is the couple's first overseas engagement since their marriage in late April.

Private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said the duke and duchess will attend a black-tie dinner at LA's renovated Belasco Theater to introduce young British film talent to Hollywood executives on July 9.

He said the guest list for the red carpet event is still being worked out.

"The goal is not to meet celebrities, the goal is to connect young British talent with Hollywood decision makers, the people in the back room who put the deals together," Lowther-Pinkerton said.

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The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is organizing the event, called "BAFTA Brits to Watch." William serves as president of the academy. Earlier that day, William will play at a charity polo match in Santa Barbara, with Middleton scheduled to award the trophy to the winning team.

Officials said Middleton, whose fashion choices have been widely praised since she took up her official duties, would not bring a special "dresser" on the trip but would rely on an administrative assistant to help with her clothes and provide other kinds of help on her first royal tour.

The Duchess will also do without a lady-in-waiting, an official female companion, although she will be accompanied by her hairdresser James Pryce as part of the seven-person entourage, officials said.

The royal couple also plans to meet inner-city youths involved in an arts program and to meet military families in Los Angeles to learn more about how veterans are reintegrated into society. They will pack care packages bound for service personnel in Afghanistan.

AP and Reuters contributed to this report.