William and Kate travel to Boston for environmental awards 0:51
Boston (CNN) --
William and Kate, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, touched down in Boston on Wednesday ahead of the second Earthshot Awards later this week.
The couple arrived in the city on a commercial flight when controversy erupted in their country, after an attendee resigned following "unacceptable and deeply regrettable" comments to a black executive who was visiting Buckingham Palace earlier this week.
This is the couple's first visit to the United States since visiting the Big Apple eight years ago.
The couple also previously embarked on a whirlwind tour of California a few months after their 2011 wedding.
The trip is a chance for William to show how he intends to adjust to his predecessor's new role as Prince of Wales, while Catherine hopes to charm audiences, as the former holder of his title effortlessly did, but now, on her own terms. .
Prince William created this climate change prize in 2020 in hopes of harnessing the world's smartest minds to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing humanity.
Every year for the next decade, five winners will receive £1 million (about US$1.12 million) to fund their creative solutions to the climate crisis.
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The heir to the British throne was inspired to launch the project by President John F. Kennedy's “moon launch” speech in 1962, when he charged the US with boosting space exploration.
Hundreds of people gathered at Speaker's Corner outside City Hall despite torrential rain and high temperatures to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.
The crowd whooped and cheered as the couple walked outside with Boston city officials.
Winners of Prince William's Earthshot Environmental Award in 2021
Some royal supporters await the arrival of William and Kate at City Hall Plaza in Boston. (Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)
Taking the podium, Prince William told well-wishers that he and his wife, Catherine, were "absolutely delighted to be with you today for our first engagement in the great city of Boston as we begin the countdown to the Earthshot Awards." Prize Awards this Friday”.
The 40-year-old royal said Boston was the "obvious choice" for this year's ceremony as the hometown of former President Kennedy and "because its universities, research centers and vibrant start-up scene make it a leading world in science, innovation and ambition without limits.
“Like President Kennedy, Catherine and I firmly believe that we all have the capacity to achieve great things and that human beings have the capacity to lead, innovate and solve problems,” William continued.
“We can't wait to honor the Earthshot Prize finalists later this week, and we both look forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey joined the couple to help formally kick off the city's Earthshot celebrations, lighting up the Civic Building and other landmarks with the push of a button. in green.
William, the new Prince of Wales, assumes a crucial role for the monarchy
Before the lighting ceremony, the senior royal had an audience with Mayor Wu inside the city hall. (Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Despite their busy schedule on Wednesday, the couple attended a Boston Celtics game against the Miami Heat in downtown Boston.
They were sitting courtside for the game with Healey.
Restoring real perceptions after a series of controversies
While William and Kate's trip to the United States isn't an official royal tour, the high-ranking royals won't just parachute in for a glittering ceremony on Friday night.
Instead, they have a packed three-day visit during which they will focus on initiatives in some of Boston's most needy communities and meet with local indigenous leaders.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson told CNN the couple was looking forward to spending more time in Boston so they could get to know the communities and learn about the climate-related challenges facing the seaside city.
The couple's trip is also seen by some as an opportunity to reset perceptions in the US after a damaging few years.
New seasons of Netflix's "The Crown" have revived old criticism of the monarchy, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey tarnished the family's reputation.
They claimed that family members had made racist comments and that the institution had abandoned Meghan when she admitted she was contemplating suicide while pregnant with her first child, Archie.
Subsequently, William defended the monarchy, stating that "we are not a racist family".
Prince William inherited a 685-year-old estate valued at more than $1 billion
On Wednesday, a female honorary member of Buckingham Palace resigned and apologized after a founder of a black charity said she was asked if she was really British at a royal reception on Tuesday.
Kensington Palace denounced the incident, saying the comments were "unacceptable" and that it was "right that the person concerned should step aside with immediate effect."
By the way, days after this tour, Harry and Meghan will receive an award for their work through their Archewell Foundation on race, mental health and social impact.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were recently named 2022 Ripple of Hope Award recipients by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Organization (RFKHR).
They join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others, who will be honored this year.
Announcing the award last month, RFKHR President Kerry Kennedy said the couple "have always been noted for their willingness to speak up and change the narrative on racial justice and mental health around the world."
“They embody the kind of moral courage that my father once called the 'essential and vital quality for those seeking to change a world painfully yielding to change,'” he said.
There are no plans for siblings and their spouses to catch up while in the same country.
Their priority is the Earthshot event and they are smart enough to know that a family gathering would overshadow their goals.
Instead, the senior royals hope during their stay in the US to focus public attention on the causes they champion and the work they do.
“The award has become like the prince’s Superbowl of the Year moment, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shed light on some of the most impactful projects doing incredible things around the world to save the future of our planet," a Kensington Palace spokesman said.
One meeting that is scheduled is to catch up with US President Joe Biden, who will greet the couple during their visit to Boston for a fundraiser this Friday, according to the White House.
The Earthshot Award will be full of stars
The visit to the US culminates with the grand finale of the star-studded Earthshot Award ceremony this Friday, which will marry innovation with entertainment.
Singers Annie Lennox, Billie Eilish and Ellie Goulding will perform, and the five winners will be announced by presenters including Oscar winner Rami Malek, actress Shailene Woodley and Catherine O'Hara of “Schitt's Creek” fame.
British broadcaster Clara Amfo will once again co-host the awards with actor Daniel Dae Kim.
Veteran British broadcaster, naturalist, and all-around national treasure, David Attenborough, will also take part in the brilliant show.
The awards will be broadcast in the UK on Sunday on the BBC at 5:30pm GMT.
It is scheduled to air on PBS on December 14, but will begin streaming on the station's website and app on Monday.
Viewers across Africa will also be able to catch the ceremony on Monday when it premieres on Multichoice channels at 5pm WAT.
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