The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to Boston for the second annual Earthshot awards ceremony in early December, William said during a video address on Wednesday.
The visit marks the couple’s first official trip to the United States since 2014, when they had a series of engagements in New York and Washington, DC
Boston was announced as the host city for the awards ceremony in July, with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation serving as hosts alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
The Earthshot Prize/Bloomberg Philanthropies/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The prince’s special video message was played during the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York on Wednesday, which the king was scheduled to attend.
William canceled his trip due to the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th.
The royal family mourns at the request of King Charles III. to a week after the state funeral, which took place on Monday, for the late Queen.
“Although it is the saddest of circumstances that mean I cannot be with you in person today, I am pleased to be able to join you in video form as you gather in New York for the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit,” said William in his speech.
“At this time of sadness, I am very comfortable in your continued enthusiasm, optimism and commitment to the Earthshot Prize and what we are trying to achieve.
“Protecting the environment was close to my grandmother’s heart and I know she would have loved to hear about this event and the support you all give to our Earthshot finalists – the next generation of environmental pioneers.”
William continued to speak about the need for global solutions to the challenges facing the environment today, challenges that Earthshot is seeking and helping to scale, William said of the 2022 ceremony in Boston in December.
“I can’t think of a better home for the Earthshot Prize in its second year than the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy, from which we drew so much inspiration,” said William.
“I am delighted that his daughter, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, is with you at the Summit today.
“Both Catherine and I are very excited to be coming to Boston in December and we look forward to seeing you all very soon.”
James Devaney/GC Images
The announcement of the US visit will spark speculation as to whether or not the royal couple will meet with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to California in 2020, where they live in the Montecito area of Santa Barbara with their two children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1.
So far, no senior member of the royal family has paid a public visit to the Sussexes at their new residence since their move.
Relations between William, Harry and their spouses appeared to be reaching a rapprochement in the days after the Queen’s death.
The Sussexes were in the UK on a prearranged visit when news of the Queen’s ill health broke. Following her death, the Waleses and Sussexes reunited for the first time since 2020 to see floral tributes outside Windsor Castle.
In the days leading up to and including the monarch’s state funeral, the couples also attended events alongside the entire royal family.
Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Whether the apparent truce in the relationship, described by Harry as “one of distance”, will hold in the coming months remains to be seen.
December’s trip will also be William and Kate’s first trip to the country as the Prince and Princess of Wales, the new titles bestowed on them by King Charles when he ascended the throne.
The last time a Princess of Wales visited the US was in June 1997, when Princess Diana attended charity events in Washington, DC just weeks before she died in a car crash in Paris 25 years ago that year.
