LONDON —
Prince William and his wife Kate
head to the
US this week for their first visit in eight years, and the popular
couple’s inaugural trip as prince and princess of Wales.
اضافة اعلان
The three-day visit to the northeastern city of
Boston culminates on Friday evening with a star-studded ceremony for William’s
Earthshot Prize initiative to tackle climate change.
The awards ceremony — described by royal insiders as
William’s “Superbowl moment” — is now in its second year, and rewards five
innovators with £1 million each (around JD850,000).
A host of stars are expected at Boston’s MGM Music
Hall, including singers Billie Eilish and
Annie Lennox, sisters Chloe x Halle,
and actor Rami Malek.
Like last year, the British naturalist and
television presenter David Attenborough will contribute, alongside the actress
Cate Blanchett, who is on the judging panel.
The trip is the most high-profile one since
40-year-old William became heir to the throne in September, when his father succeeded
queen Elizabeth II to become King Charles III.
The new monarch soon made his eldest son prince of
Wales — the traditional title of heirs apparent dating back to the 13th
century.
The last princess of Wales was William’s mother,
Diana.
In Boston, the couple will meet the city’s mayor,
Michelle Wu, and tour the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum with
the former president’s daughter, Caroline.
Caroline Kennedy is currently Washington’s top envoy
to Australia.
Other engagements include discussions with local
officials about rising sea levels in the city on the North Atlantic coast. They
will also meet charities working with disadvantaged young people and visit a
laboratory specializing in green technologies.
Kate, who has three children aged four to nine with
William and has an interest in early years education, will visit
Harvard University’s Child Development Cent.er
No Harry or Meghan
No meeting has been
announced between Prince William and his estranged younger brother Harry, 38,
who lives in California with his wife Meghan, 41, and their two young children.
The two couples have been at loggerheads
particularly since Harry and Meghan — also known as the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex — sensationally quit the royal family in 2020.
Relations soured further after they gave a
television interview to Oprah Winfrey last year and accused the royal family of
racism, prompting a public denial from William.
The death of William and Harry’s grandmother failed
to bring about any visible meaningful reconciliation
The two couples made a frosty joint appearance at
Windsor Castle to view floral tributes and both attended the queen’s state
funeral.
Unusually though for William and Kate, who are used
to their public appearances dominating headlines in the UK, they may have to
deal with playing second fiddle to Harry and Meghan in the US.
The Sussexes are
more popular in the US and on December 6 are due to receive a major
humanitarian award from the
Robert Kennedy foundation in New York.
Comparisons between the two couples will inevitably
fuel interest in the royal soap opera even before the expected release next
month of a documentary about Harry and Meghan on Netflix.
The royal family is also bracing for the release of
Harry’s memoirs, “Spare”, on January 10, in which he promises to lift the lid
on his life in Britain’s most famous institution.
William and Kate’s US visit will be seen as a more
conventional approach to royal outreach.
Among the 15 Earthshot finalists are a Kenyan
initiative for a cleaner-burning stove and a Dutch invention to stop maritime
plastic pollution.
A pair of French and Spanish entrepreneurs is also
in the running with biodegradable seaweed packaging.
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