There's a royal visit in Phila.'s future. The couple arrive Jan. 27; themes of the royal couple's trip, to include "youth development" and "urban regeneration. Murals may be on itinerary.

By Larry Eichel and Julie Stoiber

Inquirer Staff Writers

For now, at least, the details are hush-hush. But this much can be said for certain.

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, the duchess of Cornwall, will be coming to Philadelphia Jan. 27.

The fact of their two-day visit to Philadelphia and New York was announced yesterday by the prince's office in London.

While the announcement contained some information about the New York plans - the prince will receive the Harvard Club's Global Environmental Citizen Award from last year's recipient, former Vice President Al Gore - it said nothing about what will happen here.

But local sources, who spoke only on the condition that they not be identified, indicated that the future king of England has at least three stops on his tentative itinerary.

One is a tour of the city's widely acclaimed Mural Arts Program, which, since 1984, has been responsible for creating more than 100 murals per year on the city's streetscapes. A British advance team reportedly was in Philadelphia last month looking at sites that might be included in such a tour.

The program's director, Jane Golden, told a reporter yesterday that she could not discuss the matter.

Another tentative event is a reception at Heavenly Hall, a church in the Mantua section of West Philadelphia. That stop, like the mural arts tour, would be in keeping with the announced themes of the royal couple's trip, which include "youth development" and "urban regeneration."

In addition, on the evening of Jan. 27, the prince of Wales and the former Camilla Parker Bowles reportedly will attend the 150th Anniversary Ball of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The ball is scheduled for the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, immediately following a concert at the Orchestra's old home, the Academy of Music.

It is possible that several other sites may be part of the local itinerary, the sources said.

The couple are to be hosted here, the sources said, by philanthropist Leonore Annenberg. Her husband, the late Walter H. Annenberg, was ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Nixon administration.

The prince and duchess last visited this country in November 2005, spending time in New York, Washington, New Orleans and San Francisco.