The Prince and Princess of Wales plan to tour a climate-tech startup incubator in Somerville and visit a Chelsea nonprofit that helps at-risk youths Thursday as part of their three-day stay in and around Boston, which culminates in the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony.The Earthshot Prize, inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” speech, is an ambitious global environmental prize that aims to discover, celebrate and scale the best solutions to help repair the planet.Greentown Labs is the largest climate-tech startup incubator in North America. CEO Emily Reichert said the company received a call from British officials a few weeks ago saying they were scouting locations for a possible royal visit, adding that it was top secret.“And I have to tell you, I am personally bad about that. I actually let the cat out of the bag in a team meeting in fact and went, ‘Whoops!’” CEO Emily Reichert said.There are more than 200 climate tech start-ups out of Greentown Labs. One of the five companies that will highlight its work for the Prince and Princess of Wales is Sublime Systems, which produced carbon-neutral cement. “It really hit me when the calendar event landed in my in-box, like ‘Hold for Prince and Princess of Wales,'” said Leah Ellis, of Sublime Systems. Greentown Labs hopes Thursday’s visit and exposure will help companies in their incubator be nominated for future Earthshot prizes.Somerville Avenue from Dane to School Street in Somerville will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon to accommodate security measures for the royal visit.The Prince and Princess of Wales will also visit ROCA in Chelsea — a nonprofit that helps at risk youth.Video below: The Royals first day in BostonSeveral Boston landmarks were lit up in green Wednesday night in honor of the Earthshot awards, including City Hall, TD Garden, the Museum of Science, the Wang Theater and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.Upon landing at a dreary and rainy Logan Airport on Wednesday, William released a statement on the couple’s official Twitter account that thanked Massachusetts for its hospitality.”Catherine and I are delighted to be back in the United States and are extremely grateful to Governor Baker and The First Lady of Massachusetts for their warm welcome into Boston,” the statement said. Video below: William and Kate land at Logan William’s statement also expressed gratitude for the tributes paid by Bostonians to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in early September. “On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen,” the statement said. “She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness.”After being greeted at Boston Logan International Airport by Baker Wednesday afternoon, the royal couple checked into the Four Seasons Hotel before traveling to City Hall, where Prince William addressed a crowd.”There are two reasons why Boston was the obvious choice to be the home of The Earthshot Prize in its second year. Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ speech laid down a challenge to American innovation and ingenuity. ‘We choose to go to the moon,’ he said, ‘not because it is easy but because it is hard,'” said the Prince of Wales. “It was the Moonshot speech that inspired me to launch the Earthshot Prize with the aim of doing the same for climate change as President Kennedy did for the space race. And where better to hold this year’s awards ceremony than in President Kennedy’s hometown, in partnership with his daughter and the foundation that continues in his name.”Boston was also the obvious choice because your universities, research centers and vibrant start-up scene make you a global leader in science, innovation and boundless ambition. Mayor Wu, you have also been a leader in putting climate policies at the heart of your administration. Thank you,” the prince said. “Like President Kennedy, Catherine and I firmly believe that we all have it in ourselves to achieve great things, and that human beings have the ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. We cannot wait to celebrate The Earthshot Prize Finalists later this week, and we are both looking forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change.” After the City Hall appearance, William and Kate attended the Boston Celtics’ game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden. They sat courtside with Healey, Wu, Boston Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, and former Celtics player Tom “Satch” Sanders, who won eight NBA titles with Boston.Boston was announced as the site of the second annual Earthshot awards in early July. The ceremony will be held Friday at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. On Friday, the princess will visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University while the prince visits the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Prince William will be accompanied by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of John F. Kennedy, during his visit to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.President Joe Biden will arrive in Boston on Friday to attend a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He will also greet the prince and princess while he is in the city.Kate will be among the star-studded list of presenters for this year’s Earthshot Prize winners. William will deliver remarks at the end of the awards ceremony.During the awards ceremony, five Earthshot Prize winners will be selected from a field of 15 finalists — three each in the following five categories: protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world and fix our climate.The five Earthshot winners will receive 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) in prize money while all 15 finalists also receive help in expanding their projects to meet global demand.The trip to Boston marks the first time the British royal couple visited the United States since 2014, when Kate was still the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Prince and Princess of Wales plan to tour a climate-tech startup incubator in Somerville and visit a Chelsea nonprofit that helps at-risk youths Thursday as part of their three-day stay in and around Boston, which culminates in the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony.
The Earthshot Prize, inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” speech, is an ambitious global environmental prize that aims to discover, celebrate and scale the best solutions to help repair the planet.
Greentown Labs is the largest climate-tech startup incubator in North America. CEO Emily Reichert said the company received a call from British officials a few weeks ago saying they were scouting locations for a possible royal visit, adding that it was top secret.
“And I have to tell you, I am personally bad about that. I actually let the cat out of the bag in a team meeting in fact and went, ‘Whoops!’” CEO Emily Reichert said.
There are more than 200 climate tech start-ups out of Greentown Labs. One of the five companies that will highlight its work for the Prince and Princess of Wales is Sublime Systems, which produced carbon-neutral cement.
“It really hit me when the calendar event landed in my in-box, like ‘Hold for Prince and Princess of Wales,'” said Leah Ellis, of Sublime Systems.
Greentown Labs hopes Thursday’s visit and exposure will help companies in their incubator be nominated for future Earthshot prizes.
Somerville Avenue from Dane to School Street in Somerville will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon to accommodate security measures for the royal visit.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will also visit ROCA in Chelsea — a nonprofit that helps at risk youth.
Video below: The Royals first day in Boston
Several Boston landmarks were lit up in green Wednesday night in honor of the Earthshot awards, including City Hall, TD Garden, the Museum of Science, the Wang Theater and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.
Upon landing at a dreary and rainy Logan Airport on Wednesday, William released a statement on the couple’s official Twitter account that thanked Massachusetts for its hospitality.
“Catherine and I are delighted to be back in the United States and are extremely grateful to Governor Baker and The First Lady of Massachusetts for their warm welcome into Boston,” the statement said.
Video below: William and Kate land at Logan
William’s statement also expressed gratitude for the tributes paid by Bostonians to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in early September.
“On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late Queen,” the statement said. “She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness.”
After being greeted at Boston Logan International Airport by Baker Wednesday afternoon, the royal couple checked into the Four Seasons Hotel before traveling to City Hall, where Prince William addressed a crowd.
“There are two reasons why Boston was the obvious choice to be the home of The Earthshot Prize in its second year. Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ speech laid down a challenge to American innovation and ingenuity. ‘We choose to go to the moon,’ he said, ‘not because it is easy but because it is hard,'” said the Prince of Wales. “It was the Moonshot speech that inspired me to launch the Earthshot Prize with the aim of doing the same for climate change as President Kennedy did for the space race. And where better to hold this year’s awards ceremony than in President Kennedy’s hometown, in partnership with his daughter and the foundation that continues in his name.
“Boston was also the obvious choice because your universities, research centers and vibrant start-up scene make you a global leader in science, innovation and boundless ambition. Mayor Wu, you have also been a leader in putting climate policies at the heart of your administration. Thank you,” the prince said. “Like President Kennedy, Catherine and I firmly believe that we all have it in ourselves to achieve great things, and that human beings have the ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. We cannot wait to celebrate The Earthshot Prize Finalists later this week, and we are both looking forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change.”
After the City Hall appearance, William and Kate attended the Boston Celtics’ game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden. They sat courtside with Healey, Wu, Boston Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, and former Celtics player Tom “Satch” Sanders, who won eight NBA titles with Boston.
Boston was announced as the site of the second annual Earthshot awards in early July. The ceremony will be held Friday at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway.
On Friday, the princess will visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University while the prince visits the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Prince William will be accompanied by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, the daughter and only surviving child of John F. Kennedy, during his visit to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.
President Joe Biden will arrive in Boston on Friday to attend a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He will also greet the prince and princess while he is in the city.
Kate will be among the star-studded list of presenters for this year’s Earthshot Prize winners. William will deliver remarks at the end of the awards ceremony.
During the awards ceremony, five Earthshot Prize winners will be selected from a field of 15 finalists — three each in the following five categories: protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world and fix our climate.
The five Earthshot winners will receive 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) in prize money while all 15 finalists also receive help in expanding their projects to meet global demand.
The trip to Boston marks the first time the British royal couple visited the United States since 2014, when Kate was still the Duchess of Cambridge.