SANTA BARBARA, California (AFP) ? Prince William and his wife Catherine wowed the crowds at a charity polo match on Saturday, the second day of a star-studded California trip aimed at promoting British talent in Hollywood.
The 29-year-old future king drew whoops of approval when he took the field under a blazing West Coast sun at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, as Catherine watched admiringly from the stands.
"A big royal welcome to Kate and Will," read a banner draped from a nearby condominium block, where residents had a perfect view of the horse-back action at the exclusive club, in the shadow of mountains along the Pacific coast.
Wearing the number 4 dark blue shirt for his Royal Salute Foundation team, he was applauded every time he got the ball, helping his side to victory in their first game of the afternoon.
William and Catherine had already drawn tributes when they arrived by helicopter for the polo match, she dressed in a silver and marble grey dress by Jenny Packham, he in white trousers and a blue blazer.
"They're great role models for young people, they're elegant and great ambassadors for their country," said Santa Barbara resident Victoria Hines, 65, dressed up for the exclusive event an hour north of Los Angeles.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- as they have been since marrying in London in April -- arrived in Los Angeles on Friday for the weekend trip following a nine-day tour of Canada.
On Friday evening, they met stars including footballer David Beckham and British writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry at the British consul-general's residence, where they are staying until Sunday.
"Entirely charming evening at the British Consulate here in LA. The Cambridges dazzled everyone," Fry wrote on Twitter after the event.
On Saturday they flew up the Pacific coast by helicopter for the charity polo match in aid of the American Friends of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
Security was tight at the prestigious polo ground, where sniffer dogs were checking spectators who began arriving from early morning for the afternoon game, as helicopters clattered overhead.
The 29-year-old prince, second in line to the British throne after his father Prince Charles, was to demonstrate his horsemanship while Catherine was to present the prize to the winning players.
Tickets for the one-off event went for 400 dollars, or 4,000 for the privilege of lunching with the royal couple before the on-field action.
Whatever the outcome on the polo field, the couple will have to pick themselves up late Saturday for a black-tie dinner hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in downtown Los Angeles.
William is BAFTA's president, and the aim of the event will be to give up-and-coming British actors a chance to meet Hollywood movers and shakers.
Officially, the Californian mini-tour will aim to "contribute to deepening and strengthening the multi-layered links between the United States and the United Kingdom," according to a British official briefing.
Unofficially, all eyes are on who they will meet during the barely 48-hour stay in California -- including at Saturday night's BAFTA event, expected to be attended by top Hollywood talent including Tom Hanks and Nicole Kidman.
On Sunday, they visit "Skid Row" in downtown to visit the Inner-City Arts school, a nonprofit academy that provides free classes in visual and performing arts to children from poor neighborhoods.
Later Sunday they attend a job fair for military veterans at Sony Studios in Culver City, before leaving Los Angeles to return to the United Kingdom after their 12-day north American trip.
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