Boston landmarks will be lit green by the Prince and Princess of Wales as they begin a three-day visit to the US, culminating in the Earthshot Award ceremony.
William and Kate begin their first official trip abroad since the Queen’s death with a welcome event outside Boston City Hall, attended by Michelle Wu, the city’s mayor.
From Speaker’s Corner, the couple will officially begin the countdown to Earthshot, hosted by Boston on Friday, by lighting City Hall and other prominent buildings green.
Superstar singer Billie Eilish will lead a stellar team for the awards ceremony, founded by William to recognize and expand environmental solutions to repair the planet.
Other acts to be featured include Annie Lennox, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce protégés Chloe x Halle, who perform at Boston’s MGM Music Hall.
A royal source said: “The award has become the Prince’s Superbowl moment of the year and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform every year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save us . the future of the planet.”
The Earthshot Prize is now in its second year and among the 15 finalists competing for £1 million awarded to each of the five category winners are a cleaner burning stove initiative in Kenya and a bubble barrier made in The Netherlands to prevent plastic from entering the oceans. .
We are the finalists @EarthshotPrize!!!#slideintoprincewilliamsdms pic.twitter.com/3dNlCE1JAi
— Notpla (@notpla) November 4, 2022
There are also first-time UK finalists, with two UK-based entries selected.
Notpla Hard Material – a start-up led by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez in London – makes packaging from seaweed and plants as an alternative to single-use plastic and has already produced over a million biodegradable takeaway boxes for Just Eat. .
The other UK finalist – Low Carbon Materials, based in County Durham – uses non-recyclable plastic waste to make traditional zero-carbon concrete blocks.
Broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, a supporter of the Earthshot Prize since its inception, will voice the show’s opening, while Oscar-winning actress and Earthshot jury member Cate Blanchett will provide a look back at the 2021 winners.
Actor Rami Malek, who portrayed singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, will present an award, as will actress Catherine O’Hara, known for her starring role in Home Alone, and environmental activist and actress Shailene Woodley.
William and Kate are also keen to get to know local communities during their visit to Boston, which is renowned for its Irish heritage, sports and history.
During their visit, William and Kate will visit the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum with Caroline Kennedy, the late president’s daughter.
The Prince and Princess will learn about the work local organizations are doing to mitigate the risk of sea level rise in Boston, and when they visit Greentown Labs in the nearby town of Somerville, they will gain insight into innovative green development. technologies.
At the headquarters of Roca, a non-profit organization that supports disadvantaged young people, they will hear about the issues they face, and Kate, who launched the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in 2021, will visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University . .