Kate Middleton left one young royal fan in tears of joy today after she and Prince William embarked on an impromptu walkabout during the latest leg of their charm offensive tour in Boston – which has been dramatically overshadowed by controversy.
But any fears that the Prince and Princess of Wales might have had about damage to their reputations in the US in the wake of the Buckingham Palace race row, or the ill-timed release of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive Netflix documentary trailer, will have been put aside today as they were warmly embraced by a crowd of American fans.
Following their first two engagements of the day, which saw them visiting a climate innovation company and a non-profit organization that works with youths at risk of urban violence, William and Kate spent time greeting a group of well-wishers who had gathered in the frosty weather in the hopes of catching a glance at the royal pair.
One particularly emotional fan broke down in tears when Kate approached her, before taking the Princess’s hand and thanking her for ‘everything she has done’.
‘You’ve been so lovely, thank you for everything,’ the woman said while holding Kate by the hand, having burst into tears when she saw the mother-of-three making her way over to her.
The moment was one of many touching interactions between the royals and their fans – a surefire sign that the controversies that have overshadowed their first US tour in eight years have certainly not dampened their own popularity.
Indeed, the crowds of delighted well-wishers will no doubt have served as a very welcome moment of lightness for Kate and William, who started their day off with the news that Meghan and Harry had released a bombshell first look at their upcoming Netflix documentary – just hours before the Prince and Princess were due to kick off day two of their tour.
One particularly emotional fan burst into tears upon meeting Kate, having been waiting patiently to hand her a bouquet, with her hand over a face as she sobbed with excitement
The young woman could be seen (far right) with her hand over her face as she broke down at the prospect of meeting Kate
After exiting Roca, a non-profit organization that works with young people who are at the center of urban violence, Kate and William took part in a brief walkabout, during which they greeted fans and well-wishers
The couple were seen chatting with several members of the public before heading to their waiting vehicle
A large group had gathered to say hello to the pair – with some seizing the chance to snap a few selfies
The couple were under the watchful eye of several security guards as they shook hands with the crowds of people who had turned out to greet them
Harry and Meghan’s trailer release would have been controversy enough for William and Kate, both 40, to deal with on the second day of their tour – however their first US trip in eight years has already been dramatically overshadowed by a Buckingham Palace race row, which was sparked by the Prince’s own godmother.
Just hours before the Prince and Princess touched down in Boston to launch William’s Earthshot Prize, his godmother Lady Susan Hussey, 83, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen, was accused of making racist comments to black domestic abuse campaigner Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace event on Tuesday night.
As William and Kate were mid-flight, their Kensington Palace spokesperson issued a statement condemning the ‘unacceptable’ comments made by Lady Hussey – who resigned from her role in the royal household – however the controversy has already cast a bleak shadow over what was meant to be a ‘Super Bowl’ moment for the Prince.
But despite the controversy that created a cloud over what was seen by many as a shining opportunity to reignite the Monarchy’s popularity in the US, William and Kate put on a brave face as they took part in two engagements on Thursday morning, all the while maintaining wide smiles.
Their unscheduled walkabout outside of Roca – a non-profit organization focusing on high-risk young people between the ages of 16-24 years old at the center of urban violence – was filled with many reminders of the positive light in which the couple are held by their fans in the US.
Many in the crowd had queued for hours in freezing cold and winds just to catch a glimpse of the couple, not dreaming that they would actually get the chance to meet them.
Ashley Langan, 20, held a sign saying ‘Welcome to Boston Your Highness’ and was overjoyed that both William and Kate stopped to admire it.
She told DailyMail.com: ‘It’s a dream come true, really it is. if I had told myself 10 years ago that this would happen I wouldn’t have believed me. I love them as a couple and the work they do.’
Screams of ‘William, Kate and you’re so beautiful’ rang out through the crowd, ‘We love you,’ another yelled.
One woman told the Princess that she loved the her work on the Early Years, telling her: ‘As one mother to another, we can always learn from each other.’
Katie Lummie spoke with the princess and said afterwards: ’She is such an icon for women.’
William led the charge, gallantly pointing people with flowers in his wife’s direction and ever gathering some up for her.
One person held up a festive sign that read: ‘Welcome to Chelsea The Future King and Queen of England’
William led the charge, gallantly pointing people with flowers in his wife’s direction and ever gathering some up for her
Screams of ‘William, Kate and you’re so beautiful’ rang out through the crowd, ‘We love you,’ another yelled
The walkabout will have likely served as a reminder to Kate and William of their enduring popularity – even after the controversy surrounding the royal race row and the ill-timed release of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix doc trailer this morning
Despite the scandal surrounding their tour, both Kate and William put on a brave face throughout their morning engagements
The walkabout came hours after the couple kicked off the second day of their three-day Boston tour – under the cloud of Prince Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer release.
But despite controversy hanging in the air, the couple put on a brave face as they embarked on a visit to Greentown Labs, a climate innovation company, where they were greeted by a young boy who dressed up as a member of the King’s Guard.
The couple looked delighted as they were introduced to eight-year-old Henry Dynov-Teixeira outside of Greentown Labs in Massachusetts, where the youngster had been waiting for the chance to show off his replica of a King’s Guard uniform – which included a faux bearskin hat and bold red jacket.
After handing a bouquet of red roses to a grinning Kate, cheeky Henry then asked her why the couple’s son, Prince George had not accompanied them on the trip, with the Princess replying that he’d had to stay at home in order to attend school.
Still, if young Henry was disappointed to have missed the chance to meet another future King, he didn’t let that dampen his joy at meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales, telling DailyMail.com: ‘First of all it was crazy meeting the Prince and Princess. It was crazy. I wasn’t actually that nervous now that I think about it when I actually did it.’
He added: ‘I’m going to scream and tell my best friend that I am famous now!’
Following their trip to Greentown Labs, Kate and William made their way to the nearby suburb of Chelsea, where they paid a visit to Roca, a non-profit organization focusing on high-risk young people between the ages of 16-24 years old at the center of urban violence.
There, the pair were pictured interacting with several young children, helping out with an arts and crafts session. They also met with several women in the young mothers’ program, as well as current members and alumni from the organization’s young men’s program.
During that time, they were given the chance to interact with several young children, with Kate looking particularly delighted at having the chance to spend time with a young girl who toddled around the room as she and William spoke to several program members.
Roca is an organization that works to reduce levels of trauma, violence and imprisonment, create sustained employment, and improve parenting.
The group also works closely with critical public systems such as police officers, judges, correction officers and child protection services to help build policies and practices that produce better outcomes for young people who are the primary victims or drivers of violence.
Inside William and Kate were introduced to CEO Molly Baldwin, who began her professional life as youth worker, founding the organization in 1988 to work with a small group of high-risk young people.
She and Dave Batchelor, the captain of the community services division for the Chelsea Police Department, spoke of the inspirational work that Roca does.
When asked by William: ‘What was it that you saw that made you look at these guys and girls differently?’ Dave responded, ‘They [Roca] don’t refuse to help, they just keep on going after then. They know with brain science that your approach might not work the first time. You might have to come after them five, six, seven times or more, they never give up.’
The Prince of Wales shared his own thoughts on the topic, saying: ‘It’s trying to get the message across that there’s a grey area between when you look at a long person and see gap between the potential they have and the trouble they cause. As a society how do we tackle that?
‘There is so much happens in between and there is so much potential there.
‘Young people, the situations they have been in means they immediately feel under threat, their brain is wired that way. It’s a question of pausing, or getting them to pause. You results are fast given what they have been through.’
Meanwhile the Princess asked how society might be able to help young people earlier on in life – before they reach the point of needing the assistance of an organization like Roca.
Sitting down with a group containing two counsellors and two young people who have been helped by Roca, the couple chatted more about the work the organization does.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also got an adorable reminder of home during the second day of their US tour this morning, when they were greeted by an eight-year-old boy who had dressed up as a member of the King’s Guard
Eight-year-old Henry Dynov-Teixeira provided what was no doubt a much-needed moment of lightness for the couple, whose engagement came just hours after Prince Harry and Meghan released a very ill-timed trailer for their explosive Netflix doc
Young Henry presented the Princess with a bouquet of red roses – and he later told DailyMail.com of his meeting with the couple: ‘It was crazy meeting the Prince and Princess. I wasn’t actually that nervous now that I think about it’
The youngster asked the Princess of Wales where the couple’s eldest son George was – with Kate telling Henry that he’d had to stay at home in order to attend school
Following their trip to Greentown Labs, Kate and William made their way to the nearby suburb of Chelsea, where they paid a visit to Roca, a non-profit organization focusing on high-risk young people at the center of urban violence
Kate and William took part in an arts and crafts session with several young children at Roca, with the Princess seen helping one youngster with some paper shapes
One cheeky young boy made funny faces at the camera while William helped another youngster with his art project
Jonathan Williams, 22, a candidate on the Young Men’s program, said he had an ‘awakening’ while serving time for an attempted robbery. He is now, with Roca’s help, working to become an insurance brokers and is focusing on improving his self-image and helping others.
He told William and Kate: ‘The people here are genuine, it makes it easier for you to engage.’
Asked by William whether he had tied other programs, he said he had, adding: ‘At Roca they are on my back, they are always checking up on me. I now don’t worry about the things I can’t do and concentrate on settings goals for what kind of man I want to be in the future.‘
William replied: ‘I hope you give yourself a pay on the back. The people here have enabled to you help yourself, but you have done it.’
Counsellor Robert Foxworth told the couple that building trust was at the heart of their work and said that if his ‘young people didn’t answer the phone, I will go to their door, and if they don’t answer that I will go again and again until they do.’
William and Kate also met Matthew Quinton, 24, who suffers from post-traumatic stress after significant childhood trauma. He is now clean of drugs and alcohol and says Roca has put him on the path to a better life.
‘Roca has enabled me to be the best version of myself. I never knew how to ask for help but I have learnt a lot about trust,’ he explained, before later revealing what an ‘honor’ it was to have met the couple.
‘I was so grateful for the chance to tell them about what this place has done for me,’ he said.
The Prince and Princess also popped into the crèche for the children of young mothers who are being helped by the center, sitting down to play with them.
They then sat down to chat with counsellors and some of the young mothers who are often not helped by other organizations. Many of them have suffered horrific trauma – including one who overdosed just to get into a shelter, while another stabbed her much older gang-involved boyfriend.
The couple looked shocked as they listened to Sumindiya Bhalla, executive Vice President of the program, talk through their work. There was a moment of lightness as one little toddler, absolutely fascinated by the cameras, toddled around.
Before they left the couple met with staff, users and volunteers, as Molly Baldwin thanked them for taking the time to visit, saying: ‘I want to share with you that they do incredible work not just in England but around the world.’
In an impromptu speech, William described their work as ‘incredible’ and said the team was inspirational.
‘We have really enjoyed making this connection today,’ he said.
Throughout both engagements, William and Kate had wide smiles on their faces – giving away no indication that, behind the scenes, the royal family is struggling with potentially-devastating scandals.
Hours before Kate and William kicked off day two of the tour, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dropped an explosive teaser for their upcoming Netflix show – which is part of their $100 million deal with the streaming giant – in which they shared an incredibly intimate series of never-before-seen images, including several of Meghan crying, while hinting that they are preparing to launch a fresh series of attacks on the royal family.
Kate looked particularly thrilled to be spending time with one little girl, who happily walked around the room as the couple chatted with Roca’s leaders and founders
They seemed determined not to let the smiles fall from their faces as they carried out their second engagement of the day
During their visit to Roca, William and Kate spent time chatting with women in the young mothers’ program
Kate, whose three children did not join her on the trip, seemed particularly taken with one little boy, who took pride in showing her a pink paper star
Their arrival at the climate change-focused company comes just hours after Meghan and Harry hinted at fresh attacks on the Royal Family with the release of their Netflix documentary trailer, which featured several candid images of the couple
But despite the scandal, the royal couple were all smiles as they arrived at their first stop of the day – climate innovation company Greentown Labs – on Thursday morning, waving to the waiting crowds of well-wishers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the pair.
That crowd included young Henry, who turned up well in advance of the couple’s arrival dressed in his regal ensemble – which was inspired by a recent trip to Buckingham Palace.
Henry was so impressed by the changing of the guard when he visited London earlier this year that he asked his family for a costume – and proudly donned for the visit.
Young Henry is from Somerville, Massachusetts, where the Prince and Princess of Wales were visiting climate innovation company Greentown Labs.
Henry, who goes to the British International School in Boston, told DailyMail.com: ‘I wanted this outfit because when we went to London we saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and I decided that I wanted that costume. I had never seen it before.’
The Princess of Wales looked elegant in a burgundy suit, which she paired with a pretty pink pussy bow blouse and matching maroon heels, adding a touch of high-fashion flair in the form of a Chanel handbag.
Meanwhile Prince William matched his wife in a burgundy sweater, which he wore under a dark grey suit.
The couple pulled up outside of the venue for their first engagement of the day in a hybrid Range Rover, specially selected to match the climate message of their trip.
During this morning’s event, the Prince and Princess ‘learned about climate innovations which are being incubated in Boston’, and they will also meet with the CEO of Greentown Labs and the President of the Northeast Clean Energy Council to ‘learn about the history’ of the company and ‘how it is contributing to global efforts to address the climate crisis’.
As he chatted to last years finalists of his Earthshot Prize who work at the laboratory, he praised them for the groundbreaking work before issuing a stark warning: ‘For all of us the time is ticking.
‘As time goes by I keep saying ‘come on we’ve got to move faster and faster.’
Speaking about the prize he added, ‘After last year, this year we’ve had a lot more interest in the last few weeks.’
Prince William and Kate Middleton put on a brave face today as they embarked upon the first full day of their whirlwind US tour – just a few hours after Prince Harry and Meghan released a very ill-timed trailer for their explosive Netflix documentary
Kate, 40, smiled for the cameras as she made her way into climate innovation company Greentown Labs today for the first full day of her and William’s US tour – which has been dramatically overshadowed by the Buckingham Palace race row
The Princess of Wales, who wore a pretty pink pussy bow blouse under a burgundy blazer, was seen emerging from a hybrid Range Rover, specially selected to match the climate message of their trip
William continued to the 2021 finalists: ‘Well done you guys. It’s very good to hear these success stories. I know there is more to do.’
The Prince and Princess met representatives from some of the start-ups within the Greentown Labs community to hear about the latest innovative developments in climate technology.
These innovators were inspired themed in alignment with the five Earthshots: Fix our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature, Build a Waste-Free World, Revive our Oceans and Clean our Air.
Since 2011, Greentown Labs has nurtured a community of climate pioneers who are working to design and implement a more sustainable world.
Founded by entrepreneurs, Greentown Labs brings together start-ups, corporates and investors to foster ingenuity and collaboration.
Greentown is recognized as the largest climate technology start-up incubator in North America, having supported more than 500 companies since its founding that have collectively created more than 9,000 jobs and raised more than $4 billion
Both William and Kate flashed wide smiles for the cameras and the crowds as they arrived at Greentown Labs, where they were greeted by a host of fans.
William and Kate’s cheery expressions gave away little indication of the many controversies brewing within the Monarchy – both of which have dramatically overshadowed the couple’s three-day tour to Boston.
The latest scandal to blight the pair’s trip is the release of the first teaser trailer for Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary in which the couple hinted that they will launch a fresh series of attacks on the Royal Family – with Harry heard saying: ‘No one sees what goes on behind closed doors’ just before an image flashes up of Meghan holding her head in her hands while speaking on the phone.
In another photo, Meghan, 41, is seen sitting next to Harry, 38, on a sofa, with the duchess holding both hands up to her face while he looks exasperated. The other black and white snaps provide an intimate snapshot of their life, and include Meghan cradling her baby bump, Harry playing the guitar and the couple dancing at their wedding.
The Princess toted a burgundy Chanel handbag to match her suit and she accessorized with a pair of gold earrings
Greentown Labs is located in Somerville, Massachusetts, which is around a 15 minute drive from Boston
William matched his wife in a burgundy sweater – and looked cheerful as he arrived at the venue, despite bracing for fresh attacks from his brother Harry in the Sussexes’ upcoming Netflix trailer
The couple were flanked by several burly security guards as they made their way into Greentown Labs
During this morning’s event, the Prince and Princess are touring Greentown Labs, where they will ‘learn about climate innovations which are being incubated in Boston’
Kate’s long brunette hair was styled in her signature loose waves
The trailer finally cuts to the Duchess, who says: ‘When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make sense to hear our story from us?’
The trailer could hardly come at a worse time for William and Kate, who are on the second day of a visit to the US which has been overshadowed by a Buckingham Palace race row, which worsened on Thursday when one of the UK’s leading lawyers claimed that Lady Susan also asked him about his heritage at the same palace function.
Nazir Afzal, 60, Chancellor of the University of Manchester and ex-chief prosecutor of the CPS under Sir Keir Starmer, reacted to the row by declaring: ‘Racism is never far away’.
Ms Fulani has made headlines around the world after Buckingham Palace was engulfed in a toxic race row that saw the late Queen’s chief lady-in-waiting – and also Prince William’s godmother – resign after asking her ‘which part of Africa are you from?’
Mr Afzal tweeted: ‘I was at the Buckingham Palace reception at which Lady Hussey questioned the heritage of a brilliant DV expert Ngozi Fulani. She only asked me my heritage once & seemed to accept my answer – Manchester currently!’
Last night, the Prince and Princess of Wales sat courtside at a Boston Celtics game, where they joined 20,000 fans cheering on the players as they went head-to-head with the Miami Heat.
Both William and Kate flashed wide smiles for the cameras and the crowds as they arrived at Greentown Labs, where they were greeted by a host of fans – including a young boy who dressed up as one of the King’s Guards
On their first day in the city during a landmark US tour, William and Kate were brought into the TD Garden stadium to sit close to the action alongside the Celtics’ owners Wyc Grousbeck and wife Emilia Fazzalari.
Kate and William, who were also flanked by Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, stood for the US national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, performed by a previous semi-finalist from the reality TV series The Voice.
The royal couple put on brave faces as faint boos could be heard around the arena when they were introduced by a stadium announcer and shown on the Jumbotron.
Other fans in the crowd could be heard loudly cheering ‘USA, USA’ when the Prince and Princess appeared on the screens above the court.
But the royal couple kept smiling and took photos with fans. They cheered on the high-scoring game as the packed crowd ramped up the atmosphere for the 17-time World Champions game against the Miami Heat.
Before the game, the royals met members of the ‘Celtics family’, including representatives of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, which provides grassroots programming and funding to local organizations serving at-risk or at-need populations.
Last night, William and Kate sat courtside at a Boston Celtics game
The Prince of Wales looked like he was enjoying himself as he cheered on the Boston Celtics, with Kate flashing him a smile
The couple had the best seats in the house for the basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat
They happily posed with fans during the basketball game, which saw the Celtics take on the Miami Heat
Around the arena, digital advertising boards were lit up green to promote Prince William’s Earthshot awards, while spectators were treated to a promotional video ahead of the game.
After the second quarter with the game tied 47 all, William and Kate watched as the Celtics honored their long- standing tradition of recognizing a ‘Hero Among Us’, highlighting individuals working to positively impact the community.
Ollie Perrault, a 15-year-old climate activist from Easthampton, Massachusetts, got to meet the royal pair after being cheered by the local crowd for her work as a leading member of the Youth Climate Leadership Program.
She is now the founder and director of Youth Climate Action Now, committed to fighting for environmental justice, and working to get more young people involved in direct climate action.
There is no doubting that William and Kate had hoped the evening’s match – the second in their official list of engagements during their whirlwind three-day trip to Boston – would go off without a hitch, given the awkward moment at the Earthshot launch just hours before the game.
As the Prince and Princess Wales watched on from the wings at the launch event, African-American Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, who founded a youth organization focused on ‘teaching the history of the civil rights movement’, said: ‘On this day, I invite us all to consider the legacy of colonialism and racism.’
She referenced the ‘ways it has impacted people across the world and its connection, its deep connection to the degradation of land and our planet that we are all seeking to reverse. The stories lost, the species made extinct, but also the persistence of people in the face of oppression and the fundamental dignity of all of our relations.’
Their attendance at the basketball game came after William and Kate officially launched this year’s Earthshot at a ceremony held at Boston City Hall
As the Prince and Princess Wales watched on from the wings at the launch event, African-American Reverend Mariama White-Hammond said: ‘On this day, I invite us all to consider the legacy of colonialism and racism’ amid the royal race row
Her speech came just hours after William’s Kensington Palace spokesperson condemned the ‘unacceptable’ comments made by his godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, at an event at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night
Although there was no direct reference to Lady Susan, few could fail to connect the controversy with Reverend White-Hammond’s remarks.
Having started her speech by ‘acknowledging the ancestral lands we stand on today’, the Reverend went on to express gratitude to William and Kate for choosing to host this year’s Earthshot Prize in Boston.
‘Now you all know we are a city of many firsts. We are honored to be the first American city and the first city outside of the United Kingdom to host the Earthshot Prize,’ she continued.
Her comments about colonialism came just months after another of William and Kate’s international engagements – a March tour to the Caribbean to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – attracted controversy due to accusations that elements of it smacked of ‘colonialism’.
This week Prince William will also visit the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
He and his wife will learn about the work that local organizations are doing to mitigate the risk of rising sea levels in Boston and they will also tour Greentown Labs, in the nearby town of Somerville, to get an insight into the development of innovative green technologies.
There are also plans for the royal couple to meet President Joe Biden on Friday, who will be in Boston on a separate trip.
‘No one sees what’s happening behind closed doors’: Harry and Meghan drop bombshell Netflix trailer with hint of fresh attacks on royal family – and including intimate photos from their wedding, the crying Duchess and stony-faced Kate and Wills
- Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a series of never before seen photos of them together as a couple
- Meghan tells camera: ‘When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make sense to hear our story from us?’
- Some of the black and white photos are intensely personal, including several where Meghan is crying
- It comes on the second day of William and Kate’s first visit to the USA as Prince and Princess of Wales
- Trip overshadowed by lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey being accused of making racist comments
An explosive trailer for Harry and Meghan’s $100million (£88m) Netflix docuseries dropped today, with the couple sharing an intensely personal reel of never before seen photos including several of the duchess crying.
In a hint of fresh attacks on the Royal Family, Harry is heard saying, ‘no one sees what goes on behind closed doors’ just before an image flashes up of Meghan holding her head in her hands while speaking on the phone.
In another photo, Meghan, 41, is seen sitting next to Harry, 38, on a sofa, with the duchess holding both hands up to her face while he looks exasperated. The other black and white snaps provide an intimate snapshot of their life, and include Meghan cradling her baby bump, Harry playing the guitar and the couple dancing at their wedding.
The advert could hardly come at a worse time for William and Kate, who are on the second day of a visit to the US which has been overshadowed by a Buckingham Palace race row.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a number of highly personal images in the first trailer for their new Netflix documentary today. In one clip from the documentary, Meghan is seen with her head in her hands apparently weeping
In another photo, Meghan is seen sitting next to Harry on a sofa, with the duchess holding both hands up to her face while her glum-looking husband has his head tilted backwards
Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales released their own snazzy new Instagram video just minutes before the Netflix trailer dropped.
The Sussexes’ one-minute-12-second clip opens with a producer asking ‘why do you want to make this documentary?’ before several dozen photos flash up of Harry and Meghan sharing time together, along with one image of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Harry is heard saying, ‘no one sees what goes on behind closed doors’, before viewers see a photo of a distressed Meghan talking on the phone.
‘I had to do everything I could to protect my family’, the duke adds later.
The trailer finally cuts to his wife, who says: ‘When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make sense to hear our story from us?’
The Sussexes have been paid a rumored $100million for the fly-on-the-wall series, which has left the Royal Family braced for more damaging accusations from the couple.
Meghan cradling her baby bump in one of a series of ultra personal images shared by the couple for their new Netflix documentary