Prince Harry honours America's war heroes

Prince Harry has honoured America's war dead by laying floral tributes at a national cemetery commemorating the country's fallen heroes.

Harry visited Arlington National Cemetery in Washington to pay his respects to US servicemen and women who fought and died.

In contrast to the screaming young women who greeted the Prince when he arrived in Washington yesterday for the first day of his week-long tour, there was a dignified silence throughout the cemetery.

ITV News Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart reports from Washington:

Harry, a Captain in the British Army, wore his Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals No 1 dress uniform and the light blue beret of the Army Air Corps.

The Prince paid his respects at the grave of former President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in November 1963, leaving a bouquet of flowers.

He knelt on one knee and placed the blooms on the tombstone, which lies next to an eternal flame, then stood to attention, bowed his head and paused for a moment.

A St James's Palace spokesman said, "It was an appropriate gesture to recognise the passing of President Kennedy 50 years after his death".

Afterwards Harry visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre to meet injured veterans being treated there.

The Prince met US Army specialist Corey Garmon, 24, in the facility's Caren room - a computer-assisted rehab environment.

Garmon, who was injured after stepping on a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, told Harry it was his "first day on this thing", to which the royal apologised, jokingly saying, "You probably thought you were in for some quiet time!"

Harry also met US Army Staff Sergeant Tim Payne, who lost both his legs in Kandahar, southwestern Afghanistan.

Payne told Harry, "It's all mind over matter".

During his US trip, Harry will fly to the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, where more than 200 wounded servicemen and women from the US and Britain will compete.

He will also visit parts of New Jersey affected by Superstorm Sandy and stop for events in New York City before ending his visit by playing in the Sentebale Polo Cup match in Greenwich, Connecticut on Wednesday.