British royal CAMILLA, Duchess of Cornwall has been given the seal of approval by America's top TV broadcaster Barbara Walters, who has voted her the most fascinating person of the year in her annual list.

The revered former news anchor and TV host placed Prince Charles' new bride above Tom Cruise, Lance Armstrong, Dakota Fanning and Kanye West on her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005 list.

In naming Camilla as her top pick when she aired her annual list on TV on Tuesday night (29NOV05), Walters explained, "She did not change the world as we know it, she did not cure a disease, nor win the Nobel Prize.

"What she did was love someone, with no demands and no deadline... I've met Camilla several times. In person, she is warm, down to earth and unassuming."

Walters' decision to name Camilla at the top of her 2005 list is a tonic for the royal, who fared badly in polls during her recent trip to the US.