Everything to Know About Prince William and Kate’s U.S. Visit to Boston

The royal couple are said to be thrilled to make their first trip back to the U.S. since last visiting in 2014

It’s shocking to think that it’s been eight years since Prince William and Kate Middleton last hopped the pond— but it’s true, it’s been nearly a full decade since they last made a visit to the United States. They last came stateside when they visited New York City in 2014.

But, that’s about to change. William and Kate will be coming to the United States on Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. They’ll be heading to Boston for three days to attend the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards, where they will hand out $1 million prizes to five deserving winners for their contributions to environmentalism. The exciting occasion also marks the first time they’ll be coming to the States as the Prince and Princess of Wales, titles that they received after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8.

What Is the Earthshot Prize?

According to its website, the Earthshot Prize is an “ambitious global environmental prize which aims to discover, celebrate and scale the best solutions to help repair our planet.” William and Kate will join activists and policy-makers when they attend this year’s awards ceremony where five winners will be selected out of a cohort of 15 global finalists.

Prince William and Kate’s Boston Itinerary

Upon their arrival on Nov. 30, at 4:45 p.m., the Prince and Princess of Wales will travel together to join Boston mayor Michelle Wu, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Mariama White-Hammond (Boston’s chief of environment, energy and open space) at City Hall Plaza for a welcome ceremony that will be open to the public. Prince William is expected to give a speech alongside other officials.

The rest of their three-day trip? A total whirlwind! Just as they do while carrying out their royal duties in the U.K., Prince William and Kate will visit special landmarks and non-profits to learn more about environmental impacts, like the threat of rising global sea levels. They’ll also take a trip to nearby Somerville (not far from Cambridge and Harvard University), where they’ll spend time learning about some of the innovative green technologies being launched at Greentown Labs.

Prince William will also take a jaunt to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in nearby Dorcester with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. Meanwhile, Kate will visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, which is a world leader in research into the lifelong impact of experiences in early childhood. The couple will both visit Roca, a nonprofit in Chelsea that aims to fight poverty and racism and help high-risk young people.

As for whether they’ll have any downtime to enjoy some of Boston’s other famed attractions, such as the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall or the food stalls at Quincy Market, remains to be seen, but the three-day visit will culminate with the prestigious Earthshot Prize ceremony at the MGM Theater. Other presenters tapped for the event include actors Rami Malek, Shailene Woodley, Catherine O’Hara and Daniel Dae Kim. Award-winning broadcaster Clara Amfo will return for the second year as the event’s presenter.

Prince William is also scheduled to deliver the event’s closing remarks, before they head to the airport and return home—just in time to get their three kids George, Charlotte and Louis off to school on Monday morning!

Gillian Telling
Gillian Telling is a New York–based entertainment journalist who, for the past 15 years, has covered the entire spectrum of pop culture as a writer and editor. She's interviewed hundreds of celebrities throughout her career, ranging from Alex Trebek to Jennifer Lawrence, and prides herself on being the first person to ever declare that Schitt's Creek was an amazing new show (five years before everyone else caught on!).