wales visit boston

Watch CBS News

Prince and Princess of Wales finish 3-day Boston trip with Earthshot awards

By WBZ-News Staff

Updated on: December 2, 2022 / 11:15 PM EST / CBS Boston

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/ link copied

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales visited the United States for the first time in eight years with a three-day trip to Boston.

The royal couple focused their attention on their Earthshot Prize for environmental innovators Friday night. Prince William said he was inspired by JFK's "Moonshot" speech to create a decade of action and collaboration to combat climate change. 

Earthshot Prize Awards

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, hosted  The Earthshot Prize Awards at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston. 

The #PrinceandPrincessofWales greeted by ⁦ @MassGovernor ⁩ Charlie Baker and Mrs Baker as well as Governor-elect ⁦ @maura_healey ⁩ Climate Envoy John Kerry in background #EarthshotPrizeBoston2022 #wbz @wbz #royalvisit ⁦ @EarthshotPrize ⁩ pic.twitter.com/nVaEvNeHcH — Paula Ebben (@PaulaEbben) December 3, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-483543dc link copied

Bostonians inspired by Earthshot Prize

WBZ-TV's Juli McDonald spoke with people who attended The Earthshot Prize Awards hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales in Boston.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-40448fdc link copied

Inside look at The Earthshot Prize Awards

WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben was inside the MGM Music Hall at Fenway for The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony with the royal couple. She is joined by royal expert Shannon Felton Spence with for an inside look at the star-studded event.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-e970f798 link copied

Heavy traffic amid Biden, royals visit

Traffic was at a standstill on I-93 Friday evening, with President Biden in Dorchester and the royals heading to the Earthshot Prize awards near Fenway Park.

Earlier this week, AAA predicted traffic on Friday would be "royally difficult."

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-c502cb4c link copied

President Biden arrives in Boston

President Joe Biden arrived in Boston just before 2:30 p.m. on Friday. He was scheduled to briefly meet with Prince William in the afternoon. 

Biden and Prince William shook hands outside the JFK Library.     

Biden later attended a fundraising event at the IBEW Local 103 hall.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-0bc33763 link copied

Prince William meets Caroline Kennedy at JFK Library

Former President John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline welcomed Prince William to the Kennedy Library in Dorchester Friday afternoon.

Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador to Australia, was joined by her daughter Tatiana Schlossberg and son Jack Schlossberg when the prince arrived.  

William got a private tour of the library, had lunch and then will meet with President Joe Biden there.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-e0820604 link copied

Princess Catherine visits Harvard

Catherine, Princess of Wales, waved to the crowd as she arrived at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University in Cambridge Friday morning.

After leaving the center, she took some time to talk to several people, even commenting about how cold it was on Thursday.

Read more here .

WATCH: Princess Catherine greets a crowd gathered outside Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/69J9YdBSNf — Brad Tatum (@BradTatum) December 2, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-5cdcc870 link copied

David Beckham joining royals in Boston

There's been a late addition to the list of celebrities attending the Earthshot awards ceremony at the MGM Music Hall Friday night.

British soccer legend David Beckham will be there to present an award, according to a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales. 

The spokesperson told WBZ-TV Beckham's equally famous wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, known to many as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, will not be in Boston.

We can now add David Beckham to the list of presenters tonight at the #EarthShotPrizeBoston2022 ! @davidwade says “he’s gonna Boston like Beckham!” #wbz #RoyalVisitBoston https://t.co/682bOev8iq — Paula Ebben (@PaulaEbben) December 2, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-39e05a2c link copied

Behind the scenes with the royals at the MGM Music Hall

The Prince and Princess of Wales released these behind the scenes photos Friday of their rehearsal at the MGM Music Hall Thursday evening for the Earthshot awards ceremony.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-4cabb720 link copied

Prince William, Princess Catherine to visit JFK Library, Harvard before Earthshot awards

The Prince and Princess of Wales will finish their three-day visit to Boston Friday with visits to the John F. Kennedy presidential library, Harvard University and the MGM Music Hall for the Earthshot awards.

Prince William will meet with President Biden at the JFK Library in Dorchester while Princess Catherine will be at Harvard's Center on the Developing Child in Cambridge.

The JFK Library is glowing green this morning for Prince William’s arrival. President Biden, who will be in #Boston for a fundraiser, is meeting with the Prince of Wales here today. @wbz pic.twitter.com/yAJMBJo7VS — Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) December 2, 2022

The royal couple will then attend the Earthshot Prize ceremony at MGM Music Hall on Lansdowne Street in Boston for the global environmental prizes that William launched two years ago.

Five winners will get $1.2 million each for their work in nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination and climate change.

The green carpet is being set up for the #EarthShotPrize awards tonight at MGM Music Hall! @wbz #EarthshotBoston2022 pic.twitter.com/V1ao2YcVSN — Katrina Kincade (@KatrinaKNews) December 2, 2022

Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox, Ellie Goulding, Chloe x Halle, Rami Malek, Catherine O'Hara, and Shailene Woodley will all be part of the event.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-6f87162a link copied

Busy second day in Boston

On Thursday, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, made several trips around Greater Boston, learning about emerging climate technology. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-9a251374 link copied

"A piece of history"

For Prince William and Princess Catherine, Thursday was about facetime with locals, and it was evident that their fanbase spans all generations. 

There were a sea of admirers at stops in Somerville and Chelsea . 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-5846f5c5 link copied

A visit to Boston Harbor

The royal couple made their way to East Boston to Piers Park for a first-hand look at the climate challenges facing Boston Harbor.

They were greeted by Mayor Michelle Wu and Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, who is the city's chief of environment, energy and open space. 

Wu told reporters after it was a "chilly but quite educational time" for the royals along the waterfront. They talked about prioritizing climate resilience and the technologies Boston will be implementing to protect the shoreline.

"The Prince and Princess of Wales were so interested in the details of how do we actually implement this and do it fast," she said.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-6f07ff8a link copied

"History in the making," Prince and Princess of Wales meet the crowd in Chelsea

People flocked to Roca in Chelsea Thursday afternoon to get a look at the Prince and Princess of Wales after their visit there.

A Royal frenzy in Chelsea where the Prince and Princess of Wales are greeting people outside ROCA. #wbz pic.twitter.com/DIbfYJONdY — Tiffany Chan (@TiffanyChanWBZ) December 1, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-158a4900 link copied

Boy dressed as King's Guard member meets royal couple in Somerville

The little boy named Henry, who had been waiting patiently for hours in the cold outside Greentown Labs in Somerville Thursday, was finally able to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales.

He gave the royal couple a bouquet of flowers, saluted and chatted with them briefly before they left for their next stop in Chelsea.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-bf39e0e4 link copied

Crowd waits hours for brief glimpse of Prince and Princess of Wales in Somerville

A large crowd waited in the cold for hours Thursday morning to catch a very short sighting of the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrived in Somerville for a tour of Greentown Labs.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-1bb8cb88 link copied

"A lot of hoopla"

As the royal couple made their way to East Boston, not everyone in the neighborhood was starstruck by their visit. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-75f6d6ac link copied

Crowd gathers in Somerville ahead of royal visit

People lined up outside Greentown Labs in Somerville Thursday morning to get a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

One boy dressed up a member of the The King's Guard hoping to get the royal couple's attention.

This cutie is excited to see the Prince and Princess of Wales! @wbz pic.twitter.com/wX7c6DG5ad — Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) December 1, 2022

People are bundled up and lined up across the street from Greentown Labs in #Somerville hoping to see the Prince and Princess of Wales arrive here this morning. A mother & daughter spent the night on air mattresses at her hair salon nearby so they could get here early @wbz pic.twitter.com/oA9LeoiiAL — Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) December 1, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-4f296f57 link copied

Visits to Somerville, Chelsea

After spending their first night in Boston at the Four Seasons on Boylston Street, the Prince and Princess of Wales will head to Somerville and Chelsea on Thursday.

Prince William and Princess Catherine will start the second day of their Massachusetts trip with a visit to Greentown Labs in Somerville. They're expected to stay there for about an hour before moving on to the non-profit Roca in Chelsea.

Anyone in those areas should expect traffic delays. 

Good morning Boston! One day to go energy 🙌 #EarthshotBoston2022 pic.twitter.com/2w5mfzLqEA — The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) December 1, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-99773556 link copied

Prince and Princess of Wales attend Boston Celtics game

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Boston Celtics game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden Wednesday night. There was a nod to The Earthshot Prize, when 15-year-old climate activist Ollie Perrault was honored as a "Hero Among Us."

Our @wbz Royal expert Shannon Felton Spence welcomed the Prince and Princess to #Boston at the @celtics game tonight! #wbz pic.twitter.com/xIawCO72o3 — Paula Ebben (@PaulaEbben) December 1, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-0dbb48ac link copied

Prince William speaks at Boston City Hall

Prince William addressed a large crowd at Boston City Hall on the first day of his trip to the city. He spoke about the Earthshot Prize Awards and why he picked Boston to host the ceremony. Princess Catherine helped illuminate City Hall in green.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-289f5f6b link copied

Mayor Wu greets Prince and Princess of Wales

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu greeted Prince William and Princess Catherine at City Hall.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-68f96f48 link copied

Royal couple arrives at Logan Airport on commercial flight

Passengers on the same flight said it was exciting to travel with Prince William and Princess Catherine, who chose to fly to the Earthshot Prize Awards on a commercial flight . Passengers said the couple was relaxed and pleasant.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-f22d364c link copied

Why the royal visit to Boston is such a big deal

WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben and royal expert Shannon Felton Spence discuss why Prince William and Princess Catherine chose Boston as their first overseas visit since the queen's death.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-15cae7a3 link copied

Boston Mayor Wu stresses Boston's commitment to going green as she welcomes Royals

"Boston is fundamentally a city of problem solvers," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said as she welcomed Prince William and Princess Catherine to Boston. She stressed Boston's commitment "to being the greenest city in the country."

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-c5bb88eb link copied

Governor-elect Maura Healey welcomes Prince and Princess of Wales to Boston

Governor-elect welcomed Prince William and Princess Catherine to Boston at City Hall Plaza amid cheers from the crowd, telling the couple, "We are absolutely ecstatic, so excited and delighted, that you are here with us this evening, that you are here with us this week." 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-595568a1 link copied

Going green

Several Boston landmarks will be lit up in green starting Wednesday night in recognition of the Earthshot Prize Awards. 

• JFK Library
• 100 Federal Street
• Atlantic Wharf
• The Hub on Causeway
• Bolling Building
• Government Center
• UMass Boston Integrated Science Complex
• One Financial Center
• Rose Kennedy Greenway
• Center Plaza
• John Hancock
• Shubert Theater
• Wang Theater
• Museum of Science
• Zakim Bridge (Thursday night)
• Longfellow Bridge (Thursday night)

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-50f8cffd link copied

President Biden to greet royals during Boston visit

President Joe Biden will greet Prince William and Princess Catherine during a Friday trip to Boston , the White House announced.

The White House said Tuesday that Biden would be coming to Boston, but initially did not mention events with the royals.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration updated that the president plans to greet the prince and princess. Biden will be in Boston to "participate in a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee."

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-f947c086 link copied

"Utterly delightful" airplane chat

FIRST GLIMPSE! Passengers on the British Airways flight to Boston. said the Royal couple was “utterly delightful.” The Prince and Princess of Wales spoke briefly to the others in first class — explaining why they are coming to Boston. #wbz (Courtesy: Brent Suttles) pic.twitter.com/h7sdby0IUl — Tiffany Chan (@TiffanyChanWBZ) November 30, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-a975f3fb link copied

First photos of the prince and princess in Boston

We're getting our first look at Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales as they arrive in Boston. The royal couple met with Gov. Charlie Baker upon landing at Logan Airport. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-3358eef6 link copied

VIDEO: Prince William and Princess Catherine land in Boston

Prince William and Princess Catherine have landed in Boston.

The Prince of Wales said in a statement:

"Catherine and I are delighted to be back in the United States and are extremely grateful to Governor Baker and The First Lady of Massachusetts for their warm welcome into Boston.

"On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen. She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness.

"My grandmother was one of life's optimists. And so am I. That is why last year we launched the Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire hope and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet.

"To the people of Boston, thank you. I'm so grateful to you for allowing us to host the second year of the Earthshot prize in your great city. Catherine and I can't wait to meet many of you in the days ahead."

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-20c06761 link copied

Boston traffic could be "royally difficult"

Boston traffic could be "royally difficult" this week with a prince, princess and president coming to town. 

AAA says there is "the potential for significant traffic disruptions and road closures," and drivers should plan ahead.

Click here to read more. 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-eaed51d1 link copied

Public welcome at Boston City Hall for royal visit

It's going to rain and it will be windy, but the public is invited to Boston City Hall Plaza to catch a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-3c02dc58 link copied

Expect tight security in Boston rest of the week

With the royal couple in town the rest of the week and President Biden coming to Boston Friday, expect security to be tight the next few days.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-562b117a link copied

Excitement growing at City Hall Plaza

An expected rainy evening is going to dampen excitement for Wednesday's royal visit.

A high school senior from Syracuse has been waiting on City Hall Plaza since around 8 a.m. after arriving the day before.

"I'm a huge, huge fan of the royal family," said Courtney Calkins, wearing a raincoat identical to Princess Catherine's.  

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-f126464a link copied

Union Jack flying at Boston City Hall

The Union Jack is now flying at #Boston City Hall to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales this afternoon @wbz #EarthShotBoston2022 pic.twitter.com/YhV4sY555V — Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) November 30, 2022

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-3fe6c071 link copied

All hands on deck security plan

Boston City Hall and the Fenway area are among several stops on the agenda for Prince William and Princess Catherine's three-day trip. Security analyst and former Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said the State Department and Boston Police will have all hands on deck . 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-cec03280 link copied

Final preparations in place for Prince and Princess of Wales

Prince William and Princess Catherine will arrive in Boston on Wednesday afternoon.

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-ff8fe676 link copied

Somerville's Greentown Labs hopes Prince William, Princess Kate leave "inspired"

Greentown Labs in Somerville is home to more than 200 climate tech startups working on solutions for some of the biggest climate challenges.  It's also one of the stops Prince William and Princess Kate will make during their Boston visit. 

" They're meeting with five of our startups that are working to deploy technologies that align with the sectors they're focused on. So, think about cleaning the air, reviving the oceans, fixing the climate," said Julia Travaglini, senior vice president of marketing and communications,

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-f9b7a36e link copied

Royal expert explains significance of Boston visit

Royal expert Shannon Spence said, "I think this is really a test trip for them. They are really trying to see how well and warmly they will be received in America as they take on these bigger titles. So I think in Boston they are going to be doing a lot of public temperature taking, that's why we're seeing such a diverse set of engagements." 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-5b79d571 link copied

Prince William and Princess Kate announce details of Boston visit

Details have been released about the schedule the Prince and Princess of Wales will follow during their time in Boston. 

Wednesday:  4:30 p.m.: Welcome ceremony at City Hall with Mayor Michelle Wu

Thursday:  10:30 a.m.: Visit to Greentown Labs 12:00 p.m.: Visit to Roca Inc. 

Friday:  11:15 a.m.: Princess Catherine visits Harvard 12:15 p.m.: Prince William visit JFK Library and Museum 4:45 p.m.: Earthshot Prize Awards at MGM Music Hall

Read here for more details . 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/prince-william-princess-of-wales-kate-catherine-boston-massachusetts-royal-couple-visit-earthshot/#post-update-66e7ce83 link copied
• Prince William Duke of Cambridge

The WBZ News team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WBZ.com.

How the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Boston visit unfolded: from Kate’s trip to Harvard to the glittering Earthshot Prize Awards

The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Earthshot Prize Awards 

The Prince and Princess of Wales have rounded up their three-day visit to Boston, marking the end of their first official trip to the US in almost a decade and their first time overseas since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

The couple, who share children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, carried out a busy schedule of engagements including a basketball game, visits to local charities and meetings with US political royalty , culminating in the glittering Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony on Friday night. 

Kate flew the flag for British fashion , stepping out in lusted-after labels like Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Mulberry, although she has also found occasion to bring a favourite vintage Chanel blazer out of her wardrobe. 

Prince and Princess of Wales

Speaking ahead of their arrival, a source told People.com that the couple were ‘extremely excited’ for the visit, adding: ‘They feel and appreciate the warmth and excitement of the American people for their return to the US and are really looking forward to meeting as many folks as possible.

‘The prize has become the prince’s Super Bowl moment of the year, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save our planet’s future.’

The visit threatened to be overshadowed, however, by racist comments made by Prince William's godmother, Lady Susan Hussey , to a Black charity founder at a Buckingham Palace event hosted by the Queen Consort. 

A spokesperson for the prince was quick to condemn the remarks, stating that ‘racism has no place in our society’ and that the ‘comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside [Lady Susan continued to serve a royal aide after the late Queen’s death] with immediate effect’. 

The Princess of Wales, waves as she leaves after a visit to Roca Inc 

The last time the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the US was in 2014 when they spent three days in New York. They also made the trip across the Atlantic as newlyweds in 2011 , when they enjoyed a two-day stay in California following a visit to Canada. 

Here, Tatler reveals the full details of the couple’s US visit… 

Prince and Princess of Wales arrive in Boston

The couple arrived at Boston Logan International Airport on a British Airways flight. Their first stop was City Hall, where they met Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu and kicked off celebrations surrounding the Earthshot Prize Awards, which will take place in the city on Friday night. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales

The prince delivered a speech on his arrival in the US in which he paid tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, stating: ‘Catherine and I are delighted to be back in the United States and are extremely grateful to Governor Baker and The First Lady of Massachusetts for their warm welcome into Boston. On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen. She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness.

‘My grandmother was one of life’s optimists. And so am I. That is why last year we launched the Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire hope and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet. To the people of Boston, thank you. I’m so grateful to you for allowing us to host the second year of the Earthshot prize in your great city. Catherine and I can’t wait to meet many of you in the days ahead.’ 

Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, was unable to attend due to a travel disruption. She is helping to plan Friday’s awards, which were inspired by her late father. ‘60 years ago, President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” speech laid down a challenge to American innovation and ingenuity. “We choose to go to the moon,” he said, “not because it is easy but because it is hard,”’ Prince William said in a speech. ‘It was that Moonshot speech that inspired me to launch the Earthshot Prize with the aim of doing the same for climate change as President Kennedy did for the space race.’ 

On Wednesday night, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended a basketball game. They were seated courtside to watch the Boston Celtics take on Miami Heat.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are due to meet Caroline Kennedy, daughter of  the late John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. 

The Princess of Wales arriving at Greentown Labs

The Prince and Princess of Wales fist visited Greentown Labs, in Somerville, where they learned about climate innovations being incubated in Boston. It is a cause close to the couple's heart and was the perfect precursor to their night at the Earthshot Prize Awards on Friday. 

Next William and Kate travelled to the neighbouring city of Chelsea to visit Roca, a non- profit organisation focusing on high-risk young people between the ages of 16-24 years old at the centre of urban violence. Roca aims to reduce levels of trauma, violence and incarceration, create sustained employment, and improve parenting. 

The prince and princess spend time with young children at Roca Inc

They spent time with women in the young mothers’ programme and with current members and alumni of the young men’s programme, and Kate found time for a cuddle with some of the children. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales paid a visit to the chilly Boston seafront

For their final engagement of the day, the couple learned about the significant climate challenges that the city faces. The prince and princess made a visit to chilly East Boston to see the changing face of the city's shoreline as it contends with rising sea levels.

The Princess of Wales at Harvard University

The princess visited the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, as part of her ongoing work to elevate the importance of the early years to lifelong outcomes. Meanwhile the prince visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum where he met Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and President Joe Biden. President Kennedy’s Moonshot – which challenged America to put man on the moon – is the key inspiration behind The Earthshot Prize. 

Prince William and President Joe Biden

The focus of the day, however, was the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony. The couple joined stars including Ellie Goulding, Annie Lennox, Billie Eilish, Rami Malek, Sir David Attenborough and Shailene Woodley at the glittering awards, which have been described as Prince William’s ‘Super Bowl’ moment. The awards were founded by the royal to ‘discover, celebrate and scale the best solutions to help repair the planet’. 

The Princess and Prince of Wales attend the Earthshot Prize 2022 Awards ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts

Kate nodded to the eco theme of the evening by donning a bold electric green, off-the-shoulder gown by Solace London, rented via designer rental platform HURR. She completed the look with a stunning emerald and diamond choker: a royal heirloom that formerly belonged to her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Princess of Wales wearing Princess Diana's emerald and diamond choker at the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony 

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

The Deeper Meaning Behind the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Boston Royal Tour

On Wednesday, Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, landed at Boston’s Logan Airport while a swarm of photographers looked on. They smiled and walked out together in dark matching suits , putting on a united front as they returned to the U.S. for the first time in eight years. A few hours later, two equally polished appearances followed: first, a meeting with Boston’s mayor Michelle Wu where the Princess wore a green tartan dress from Burberry , and then a second sitting courtside at a Boston Celtics game.

The couple is no stranger to overseas tours, having undertaken dozens throughout their 11-year marriage. However, their three-day trip to Boston—culminating in the second annual Earthshot Prize Award ceremony–has taken on particular significance.

The first is a poignant one. This is their first trip since the death of Queen Elizabeth in September, which was publicly mourned across the world. “On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen,” Prince William said in a statement. Indeed, the Queen visited nearly half a century ago to mark 200 years since America’s independence from England. Like William and Kate, she paid a visit to the mayor at City Hall. “She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness,” William said.

Yet their visit isn’t just paying homage to William’s grandmother, but also to famous Boston native John F. Kennedy. The name “Earthshot” is a play on the president’s 1962 “Moonshot” speech, where he committed to putting a man on the moon within the decade. In 1969, America did. Inspired by this achievement, the Waleses hope to find—and fund—an idea that will combat global warming within the next 10 years. Fittingly, they partnered with the John F. Kennedy Foundation to bring the prize to Boston.

The tour also comes at a pivotal moment for the royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to quit royal life and move to America—as well as their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey revealing the reasons why—has cast an unflattering light on both Buckingham and Kensington Palace. 

According to the Times of London , William and Kate’s trip is an important exercise in restoring the royal family’s image within the U.S. “In ten days, a visit to the U.S. by the Prince and Princess of Wales, viewed in royal circles as one of the most important overseas trips for years, aims to get the House of Windsor firmly back on the front foot across the pond,” they report. 

Indeed, the trailer from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series—where the Duke of Sussex comments that “no one sees what’s happening behind closed doors”—suggests that more details will soon emerge about their controversial departure. Will William and Kate’s charm offensive be enough?

More Great Living Stories From Vogue

Meghan Markle Is Returning to Television

Is Art Deco Interior Design Roaring Back Into Style?

Kate Middleton and Prince William Share a Never-Before-Seen Wedding Picture

Sofia Richie Grainge Has Given Birth to Her First Child—And the Name Is…

The 10 Best Spas in the World

Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month.

The Vogue Runway app has expanded! Update to the latest version to see all Vogue content, as well as new features like our Runway Genius quiz, Group Chats, and posts from Vogue contributors.

Vogue Daily

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Vogue. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Prince William, Kate head to Boston: Everything to know about the couple's 1st US trip in 8 years

William and Kate will attend several events during their three days in Boston.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are coming to America.

Prince William and Kate will travel to Boston this week, marking their first visit to the United States since 2014, when they visited New York City and famously shook hands with Beyoncé and Jay-Z at a Brooklyn Nets game.

The royals will arrive in Boston on Wednesday, two days ahead of the second annual awards ceremony for the Earthshot Prize, an initiative William launched in 2019 to create solutions for environmental problems.

Their itinerary in the city includes everything from meeting Caroline Kennedy to visiting Harvard University.

The visit to Boston is William and Kate's first overseas trip since the death of William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September, and their first overseas trip since taking on the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales .

"TRHs are both excited for their first international trip since taking on their news roles as Prince and Princess of Wales," a Kensington Palace spokesperson told ABC News. "Both appreciate the history associated to the titles but understandably want to look to the future and pave their own paths."

Here is what to watch on each day of William and Kate's three-day visit.

Wednesday: Welcome celebration in Boston

William and Kate will be welcomed to Boston on Nov. 30 in a ceremony at City Hall attended by Kennedy and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who made history last year as the first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor.

In honor of the Earthshot Prize's focus on the environment, landmarks across the city, including City Hall, will be lit up in the color green.

Thursday: Visiting with high-risk youth

The royal couple will start their second day in Boston with a visit to Greentown Labs, a climate technology start-up incubator, in nearby Somerville, Massachusetts.

According to Kensington Palace, William and Kate will learn during the visit about "climate innovations" being incubated in Boston.

Editor’s Picks

Prince William and Kate's kids have a new last name after Queen Elizabeth II's death

William, Kate travel to Wales for 1st time as Prince and Princess of Wales

Princes William and Harry unite in grief at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

More: what’s next for prince william, kate following queen elizabeth ii’s death.

From there, the couple will travel just a few miles to Chelsea, where they will visit Roca, nonprofit organization that focuses on helping high-risk young people between the ages of 16 and 24, according to the palace.

William and Kate will meet with leaders of the organization and with participants in the young mothers' and young men's programs.

Friday: Earthshot Awards at MGM Music Hall

Friday's main event will be the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony, which will be held Friday night at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, located close to Fenway Park.

The ceremony, which will air around the world on Dec. 4, will see five winners awarded $1 million grants each to scale their solutions to help repair planet Earth.

The ceremony will also include live performances by Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox, Ellie Goulding and Chloe.x.Halle, and will feature actors including Rami Malek, Catherine O’Hara, Shailene Woodley and Daniel Dae Kim as hosts and presenters.

MORE: Kate, the Princess of Wales, dazzles in Lover's Knot Tiara at state banquet

Earlier in the day Friday, Kate and William will each attend separate events.

Kate, who has made early childhood education a focus of her royal work, will meet with researchers at The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

William plans to tour the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum along with Caroline Kennedy.

William has said that President John F. Kennedy's "moonshot" challenge in 1962 to land a man on the moon within 10 years was the inspiration behind his Earthshot Prize, which has a goal to find solutions to repair the planet within the next 10 years.

The John F. Kennedy Foundation partnered with Earthshot Prize to bring this year's awards ceremony to Boston, according to the organization .

Popular Reads

How to watch the Harris-Trump ABC News debate

• Sep 10, 8:55 PM

Fact-checking Harris and Trump presidential debate

• Sep 11, 7:08 AM

Suspect at large in freeway shooting

• Sep 8, 11:18 PM

Key takeaways from Harris-Trump ABC News debate

• Sep 11, 12:19 AM

4 dead in shooting at Georgia high school

• Sep 4, 10:47 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• British Royal Family
• British Royal Family News

Kate Middleton and Prince William's Boston Trip Details Revealed: Their 'Super Bowl'

The Prince and Princess of Wales are "both extremely excited for the visit," which will end with a glamorous night out at the Earthshot Prize Awards

Kate Middleton and Prince William are all set for what staffers are calling their "Super Bowl moment."

The Prince and Princess of Wales will arrive in Boston on Wednesday, and some details of their visit have been unveiled by their office. Their three days in the U.S. will end with the celebration of new ideas to solve the planet's issues, the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony.

Kate and Prince William , who last came to the U.S. in 2014 for a visit to New York City , are "both extremely excited for the visit," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "They feel and appreciate the warmth and excitement of the American people for their return to the U.S. and are really looking forward to meeting as many folks as possible."

Prince William refers to the Earthshot Prize Awards — which will air on PBS on Sunday, December 4 — as his attempt to provide some urgent optimism about tackling environmental issues and climate change. He and Princess Kate are "excited to be able to bring that to the United States and inspire people stateside and around the world through the incredible stories we are going to tell," the source says.

The source adds, "The prize has become the Prince's Super Bowl moment of the year, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save our planet's future."

For more on the Royals, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

While the Earthshot Prize on Friday evening is the ultimate reason for their visit, the couple also sees it as an opportunity to "fact-find" about some of the causes and interests close to their hearts. "Some of the things we are focused on right now is supporting some of the most hard-pressed communities up and down the U.K. and we will continue to do that in Boston," adds the source.

Prince William and Kate's trip will start with a welcome at Boston City Hall, where Mayor Michelle Wu and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy will help the couple start the countdown to the glitzy, star-studded Earthshot Prize ceremony at the MGM Music Hall on Friday evening.

On Thursday, Prince William and Kate, both 40, will see the work that organizations in Boston are doing to create a more sustainable world, and they'll learn about some of the innovative technologies being utilized at Greentown Labs in Somerville.

Later on Thursday, they will hear about the efforts of Roca, a non-profit organization that's worked for 35 years to create a cohesive approach to save and help change the journey of the lives of high-risk young people.

Princess Kate will make a solo visit to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University on Friday to learn some of the best practices that can be taken back to her own Royal Foundation and The Centre for Early Childhood as she builds her pioneering work in the area.

Meanwhile, Prince William will tour the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot — which challenged America to put a man on the moon — is the key inspiration behind the Earthshot Prize.

Arriving in the U.S. will put the couple on the same continent as Prince William's brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle , although they're not expected to spend time together.

The California-based couple is set for an East Coast night of their own on December 6, when they receive the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award at a New York City gala.

Meghan and Prince Harry 's Netflix docuseries is also expected to premiere in December .

But an aide says highlighting and championing the Earthshot Prize is Prince William and Kate's main focus, "and we won't be distracted by other things."

This is also Prince William and Kate's first trip abroad as Prince and Princess of Wales, and with that comes inevitable parallels with William's parents — most especially Princess Diana , who was so popular in the U.S.

"They realize the history and the warm affection people feel towards those roles, but they are keen to pave their own path and create their own history," the source says.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE 's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton , Meghan Markle and more!

A source adds, "The golden thread for them is the commitment to duty and service — being there in the communities and supporting the communities up and down the country and around the world where they can."

Related Articles

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Tour of Boston in Photos

The trip marks the couple’s first visit to the United States in eight years.

The Prince and Princess of Wale are back in America.

Marking their first trip to the United States since 2014, and their first overseas trip since the death of Queen Elizabeth II , Prince William and Princess Catherine arrived in Boston on Wednesday, November 30. The couple will spend three days in the city, where they will also host their second annual Earthshot Prize Awards , a ceremony that will honor five innovators for their achievements in environmentalism.

Shortly after touching down in Boston, William released a statement expressing his enthusiasm about the coming trip and remembering his late royal grandmother, who died at 96 years old this past September.

"Catherine and I are delighted to be back in the United States and are extremely grateful to Governor Baker and The First Lady of Massachusetts for their warm welcome into Boston," he said. "On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen. She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness. My grandmother was one of life's optimists. And so am I. That is why last year we launched the Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire hope and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet."

He concluded, "To the people of Boston, thank you. I’m so grateful to you for allowing us to host the second year of the Earthshot prize in your great city. Catherine and I can’t wait to meet many of you in the days ahead."

Ahead, see every photo from the Wales's trip.

December 2, 2022

Kate and William arrive at the Earthshot Prize Awards.

William and Kate speak with David Beckham during the Earthshot Prize Awards.

William and Kate speak with Chlöe and Halle Bailey.

William meets with President Joe Biden.

Kate visits Harvard University.

William tours the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

William meets Jack Schlossberg, Tatiana Schlossberg, and Caroline Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

December 1, 2022

Kate walks onto the stage during rehearsals for the Earthshot Awards at MGM Music Hall at Fenway.

William smiles during rehearsals.

A sign from rehearsals.

The couple meets with the community of east Boston.

The couple tours east Boston.

The Waleses with with Mayor Michelle Wu and Reverend Mariama White-Hammond.

The Waleses visit east Boston to hear about how the community is contending with climate change challenges to the city's waterfront.

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset. 

The Latest from Your Favorite Royals

Queen Camilla Unveils New Cancer Center in Bath

What I Learned Traveling With Harry and Meghan

Princes William and Harry Attend Uncle’s Funeral

Meghan Markle Talks About Her Approach to Fashion

Prince Harry Is Coming to New York City Next Month

Tracking Duchess Meghan’s Style Evolution

Meghan Put a Royal Twist on High-Low Fashion

All of Meghan’s Hairstyles From Her Colombia Trip

Photos From Prince Harry & Meghan’s Colombia Trip

Duchess Meghan Does Laid-Back Glamour

Watch Duchess Meghan Speak Spanish in Colombia

Duchess Meghan Endorses the Drop Waist Trend

• SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL
•   Weather

Search location by ZIP code

Prince and princess of wales to visit boston for earthshot prize awards.

• Copy Link Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied!

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

The city of Boston is preparing to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales this week, as Prince William and Kate Middleton will be in the Massachusetts capital for the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony.

The British Royals will arrive Wednesday and will be in Boston through Friday when the awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway .

"We're thrilled that the Prince and Princess of Wales are going to be visiting Boston," said Peter Abbott, the British Consul General to New England.

The Earthshot Prize, inspired by President John F. Kennedy's "Moonshot" speech , is an ambitious global environmental prize that aims to discover, celebrate and scale the best solutions to help repair the planet.

"It's that spirit of innovation and optimism that connects the Earthshot prize with the city of Boston, which, of course, has a global reputation for its innovation and ingenuity," Abbott said.

During their trip, the prince and princess will meet with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at City Hall Plaza on Wednesday before visiting Greentown Labs in Somerville, the Chelsea nonprofit organization Roca and the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Prince William will also visit the JFK Presidential Library and Museum with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy .

"I think there will certainly be some moments where people will catch a glimpse of them in Boston," Abbott said.

The winners will be announced at the MGM Music Hall as part of a glitzy show headlined by Eilish, Annie Lennox, Ellie Goulding and Chloe x Halle. It will include video narrated by naturalist David Attenborough and actor Cate Blanchett.

Prizes will be presented by actor Rami Malek, comedian Catherine O’Hara, and actor and activist Shailene Woodley. The show will be co-hosted by the BBC’s Clara Amfo and American actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim.

William and Kate's trip to Boston was first announced in early July. This will be the first time the prince and princess have visited the United States since 2014.

The inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony was held in October 2021 at Alexandra Palace in London.

In Boston, the prince and princess will join activists, innovators, policymakers and performers to celebrate this year's cohort of 15 global finalists before the five Earthshot winners are announced.

One of the 15 finalists is Chicago-based LanzaTech, a company that is turning carbon emissions into sustainable energy and other products, such as yoga clothing and running shoes.

Video Below: Prince William and Kate Middleton to visit Boston for Earthshot Awards

On Royal Visit Day 2, William and Kate Make Friends as They Crisscross Boston

The prince and princess of wales continued their string of public appearances thursday, ahead of friday's earthshot prize award ceremony, by jeff saperstone and michael rosenfield • published december 1, 2022 • updated on december 1, 2022 at 11:47 pm.

Royal fever gripped the Boston area on Thursday as the Prince and Princess of Wales made another day of appearances, visiting innovative local organizations and making friends along the way.

William and Kate are in Boston through Friday for The Earthshot Prize Awards , which are will be presented in a star-studded ceremony Friday at the MGM Music Hall in Fenway. They got a warm welcome from the City of Boston Wednesday evening, then went to the Celtics game at TD Garden with Governor-elect Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

STAY IN THE KNOW

On Thursday morning, a little boy from Somerville stole the show as he got a personal meet-and-greet with the royals thanks to his elaborate King's Guard costume.

"It was crazy!" Henry Dynov Teixeira, 8, recalled afterward, adding. "I wasn't actually that nervous now that I think of it when I actually did it."

Get top local stories in Boston delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Boston's News Headlines newsletter.

The couple had begun their day with a visit to the Greentown Labs startup to learn about their climate innovations. Then they headed to Chelsea to visit Roca Inc. , a non-profit organization that focuses on helping high-risk young people .

Greentown Labs

With the Earthshot Prize aiming to find new solutions to repair the planet's climate, it was only fitting that the Prince and Princess saw firsthand some of the scientific innovation going on in Greater Boston.

Greentown Labs , a startup incubator, works toward "solving the climate crisis through entrepreneurship and collaboration," according to the startup, which said that it was honored to host the Prince and Princess.

Greentown also has a location in Houston. The lab's website describes it as a community for early-stage entrepreneurs, where members pay monthly fees for lab and office space. The startups also get access to staff support, programming, equipment and more.

The lab touts several accomplishments on its website, including having created over 9,000 jobs and incubating over 500 companies.

Want to know what's up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston . (You might even find a few freebies!)

After their stop in Somerville, the royals dropped in to at Roca Inc. in Chelsea. The organization describes its mission as disrupting "incarceration, poverty, and racism by engaging the young adults, police, and systems at the center of urban violence in relationships to address trauma, find hope, and drive change."

Founder Molly Baldwin was surprised by the news of the visit, despite the group's focus on mental health, which is high-priority topic for Will and Kate.

"It’s just a huge gift that will elevate the work," said Baldwin, who is also Roca's CEO, ahead of the visit. "There are young people who struggle to connect with the resources we have in this country and we are so honored."

Afterward, Baldwin said, "On one level you can hardly believe it, here are two of the most famous people in the world coming in the door, but they are human beings with great big hearts."

The Prince and Princess met with leaders of Roca and spent time with women in the young mothers program and men working through trauma that led them to harmful decisions.

Matthew Quinton said the royals were "very understanding, trying to understand us and where we come from."

Roca Inc. focuses on teens and young adults at the center of violence. They collaborate with police, judges, child protective services and other stakeholders to reduce trauma, violence and incarceration. At the same time, the group works to find youth sustainable employment.

PHOTOS: William, Kate Make a Royal Visit to Boston

Harborside walk in east boston.

The last stop on Thursday's schedule was East Boston, where the royals got to see the work that one of last year's Earthshot Prize finalists, Living Seawalls, will be doing.

Living Seawalls installs panels that imitate the ecosystem of a natural shoreline, and the organization is working with the Stone Living Lab — a partnership involving the city, state, UMass Boston and more — to install panels at two sites in Boston Harbor.

William and Kate were joined on their tour of the harbor by Wu.

As word started spreading that the Prince and Princess of Wales were making an unannounced visit to East Boston Thursday afternoon, neighborhood residents headed to Piers Park.

“Everyone in Eastie was talking about it,” said Steph Thomas.

Onlookers climbed the fence to catch a glimpse of their majesties. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived to a warm welcome.

“She gave me a little wave and I said, 'Welcome to Eastie,'” said Meg Grady. “I think it’s an iconic moment in history, I think we’ll remember in 50 years that we were in Eastie in our home at our time in our lives and we’re so glad that East Boston made it to the list.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

The crowd hoped to get up close and personal with the future King and Queen of England.

“She flashed us a million dollar smile and then she walked down towards the water,” said Caroline Quinn.

The royal couple -- guided by Wu along Boston Harbor -- wanted to learn about Boston’s challenges when it comes to climate change, rising sea levels, and storm surge -- and what the city is doing to face environmental issues.

“They’re delightful and generous with their time,” Wu said. “We got to spend some chilly but quite educational time together here, walking along the waterfront and talking about the history of so many decades of community advocacy that have led us to this point of prioritizing green.”

When the royal couple left, there was no meet and greet with the crowd but the neighborhood was still thrilled to catch a glimpse of royalty in their own backyard.

“It’s still really exciting because how often are Will and Kate in Boston and how often are they in our neighborhood,” said Thomas. “It feels really surreal.”

Boston Was 'the Obvious Choice'

William — the heir to the British throne — said that Boston was "the obvious choice" to host the second-ever Earthshot Prize Awards, founded by the prince to honor groundbreaking solutions to environmental issues.

It's the home of President John F. Kennedy, whose "moonshot" speech motivated the U.S. to send man to the moon and inspired the prince to sponsor the Earthshot Prize, which aims to find solutions to climate change.

Boston is also "a global leader in science, innovation and boundless ambition," thanks to its universities, researchers and startups, William said. He noted that its leaders are pushing for green policies as well.

"Like President Kennedy, Catherine and I firmly believe that we all have it in ourselves to achieve great things, and that human beings have the ability to lead, innovate and problem solve," he said. "We cannot wait to celebrate the Earthshot Prize finalists later on this week, and we are both looking forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change."

The royals landed at Boston Logan International Airport Wednesday afternoon on a British Airways flight and were greeted by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

President Joe Biden will be in Boston on Friday  as well, for a Senate fundraiser. The White House said Thursday that he will meet with William at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.

Royalty at the Garden

After flying into Logan and discussing climate action with state and city leaders, the Prince and Princess were probably in need of a little R&R.

They headed to TD Garden Wednesday night, and sat courtside to watch the 17-4 Boston Celtics face the Miami Heat in a 2022 Eastern Conference Finals rematch. They sat next to Healey and Wu. And they also met up with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

Despite weather delays, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy made it to Boston in time to say hello to @KensingtonRoyal at the Celtics game last night. Countdown to the #EarthshotPrize has begun! pic.twitter.com/kOpVmEKFdO — JFK Library (@JFKLibrary) December 1, 2022

It appeared the royals were ready for the matchup, too: Their official Twitter account posted a photo near the Garden floor about 20 minutes before tip-off.

Let’s go Celtics, let’s go! pic.twitter.com/v9BF2H1V2A — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 1, 2022

More royal visit news

Kicking Off Royal Visit, Prince William Addresses ‘Great City of Boston'

‘To the People of Boston, Thank You': Prince William Issues Statement Upon Arrival

This article tagged under:.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Bostonians’ Take on the Royals’ Whirlwind Visit? Whatevah.

As breathless online commentary tracked the royal couple’s every move during their visit, swaths of their host city remained unimpressed.

By Jenna Russell

BOSTON — Crowds had gathered at rain-swept City Hall Plaza to welcome Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales, the photogenic royals who touched down on Wednesday for a whirlwind three-day tour.

So were patrons abuzz about the visit two miles away at Santarpio’s, a bare-bones bar and pizza joint, and East Boston institution?

“Not yet,” a bartender said dryly as he hustled crispy pizzas and plates of steaming sausage to a row of diners Wednesday night, his expression suggesting the likelihood of any buzz was quite low.

As breathless online commentary tracked the royal couple’s every movement and designer wardrobe change for a global audience of devoted palace watchers, laconic swaths of their host city remained unimpressed, if not wholly unaware of their presence.

At a Dunkin’ in the diverse Dorchester neighborhood on Thursday, a woman waiting for her order in a puffy winter coat, hood up, declined to talk to a reporter, then asked what the story was about.

Informed of the topic, she curtly shook her head.

“Don’t care,” she said.

The city’s history helps explain its deep veins of indifference, said Brooke Barbier, a historian who also offers guided tours of Boston. Because its identity is so rooted in the American Revolution and its rejection of monarchy, and because its landscape is still littered with vivid reminders of that past, “it makes sense, even centuries later, that Boston can’t care about the monarchy,” she said. “Even if, secretly, they care.”

Commuters cross the site of the Boston Massacre on their way to the subway (the place where it happened, then King Street, was later renamed); at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, actors routinely re-enact the colonists’ famous 1773 protest against British taxation.

Fans of the first-place Boston Celtics seemed to channel vestiges of that feistiness on Wednesday night, when William and Kate attended a game at TD Garden alongside city officials, and were reportedly met with scattered chants of “USA! USA!” amid the louder cheering, when their faces were shown on a giant screen.

Asked after the game about the thrill of playing in front of royalty, the Celtics star Jaylen Brown, a Georgia native, did not hide his disinterest .

“It was just a regular game to me,” he said.

Some Bostonians said they cannot tolerate the royal family because of allegations of racism among some members and associates, including a new report this week of racist comments by Prince William’s godmother.

“I can’t talk about them because I’ll get mad,” said a woman hurrying to catch a train in Dorchester on Thursday, referencing reports that the royal family had mistreated Meghan Markle, William and Kate’s sister-in-law, who is biracial.

At a ceremony welcoming the couple on Wednesday, one city official, the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, made a point of calling out a “legacy of colonialism and racism” linked to the monarchy.

In true Boston fashion, traffic was also a sticking point, with many locals dreading the prospect of more disruption and delay caused by the royal entourage and security. In neighboring Somerville, where the prince and princess planned to visit an environmental start-up incubator, some took to Twitter to lament the likely impact on their grocery shopping, calling it “a bad day to go to Market Basket,” a reference to the beloved local grocery chain.

Still, many noted with approval the higher purpose for the royal visit. Friday evening, William and Kate celebrated the winners of the Earthshot Prize , the award they created to encourage work addressing climate change. The project was inspired by John F. Kennedy’s 1960s “moonshot” challenge, which pledged to send Americans to the moon within the decade — a connection that inspired the choice of Boston as the first American city to host the glitzy awards ceremony, held at a venue next to Fenway Park.

Also on Friday, William visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Dorchester for a tour and a meeting with President Biden, a part of the prince’s itinerary that won him grudging acknowledgment from some locals.

“They seem to have done their homework, and they’re referencing things that Bostonians care about,” said Ann Walsh, a lifelong Dorchester resident. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to see them, but they are genuinely charming.”

That said, she deemed the visit “not much of an event” and said she would be offended by any excessive show of deference to royalty: “This is America, and I think that’s an important part of who we are, that we don’t deify people.”

At Dorchester’s storied Eire Pub, where news coverage of the royals flashed on TVs above the bar, Johnny Curran, a longtime bartender, said he had heard no chatter about the visit.

“I said to my wife this morning, ‘I put my pants on the same way he does — why is he so special?’” one patron, Kevin Healey, said of the prince.

Pockets of enthusiasm could be found. The Subway sandwich shop on Dorchester’s Morrissey Boulevard, near the JFK museum, was one.

“People are pretty excited,” said Michelle Maduka, an employee who attends school at the nearby Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts.

Excited about the proximity to royalty? Well, no.

“There’s definitely going to be a lot of traffic, and last time when Biden came, some classes were canceled,” Ms. Maduka said.

A co-worker, Daniel Eke, said he would not mind meeting the prince. Mr. Eke was not scheduled to work on Friday, but he had begun to wonder if he should.

“If you could tell me they’re coming here — like, they love Subway and they’re coming to Morrissey Boulevard — then I’m going to pick up Friday,” he said.

Jenna Russell is the lead reporter covering New England for The Times. She is based near Boston. More about Jenna Russell