William and Catherine Come to L.A.

Prince William and his wife, Catherine, are scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Friday, following a trip to Canada.

During their three-day visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the British Consul-General in Hancock Park, the Inner-City Arts school on skid row, a job fair for veterans at Sony Studios in Culver City and a black-tie dinner at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The prince also will play in a charity polo match in Santa Barbara.

Do you remember the media coverage last August when tight security for President Obama’s appearance in Hancock Park snarled traffic for hours on a Monday evening? It blocked residents from returning to their own neighborhoods during rush hour, at the end of a long work day for many.

The prince and duchess are also getting the royal treatment (literally) when they visit.

LAPD is taking steps to ensure their stay in Hancock Park with the British Consul-General is a paparazzi-free experience. Police secured no-trespassing letters from residents near June Street in the Hancock Park area, which will allow police to immediately arrest paparazzi if they attempt to photograph the visitors while on private property.

Thankfully, I think we’re far enough away on this side of the hill and can avoid the traffic backup that I assume will ensue.

So enjoy the open Valley lanes while they last. Because in t-minus 8 days, Metro will be blocking off L.A.’s pulmonary artery: the stretch of 405 freeway between the 10 and 101.

Even the most royal of treatments won’t be able to navigate that one.