Kelly James is picking up in Washington, D.C. where she left off in Federal Way.

A Seafair princess a year ago as Federal Way’s representative, James was named to another royal court as a princess for the recent Cherry Blossom Festival in the nation’s capital, where she’s a college student.

Making official appearances with the other princesses, including on the nationally televised ABC-TV program “Good Morning America,” and being in the running to be named queen “has been a great experience,” said James.

She said she’s glad she wasn’t chosen as queen because the duties include leaving for a visit to Japan May 6, which would have been “right in the middle of my finals” at George Washington University. She’s studying international diplomacy and hopes to some day work abroad at a United States embassy.

James, who graduated last year from Thomas Jefferson High School, will get some international experience when she travels to China in June for one month of university-affiliated studies.

Gloria James said her daughter became a Cherry Blossom princess by reading about the festival. She applied for and was selected as the state of Washington’s representative.

“She’s very good with people, which fits in with wanting to work in embassies,” the proud mother said.

The festival, sponsored by the National Conference of State Societies, included a grand ball and banquet and a parade down Constitution Avenue last weekend. The queen, James and the other princesses were in the procession.