Princess of Wales looks radiant on first solo US tour engagement
Going it alone! Princess of Wales looks elegant in a blue dress as she arrives at Harvard for FIRST solo event of US tour – while William gets set to meet President Biden ahead of glitzy Earthshot Prize gala that has been overshadowed by royal scandal
- The Princess of Wales embarked on her first solo engagement of her and William’s three-day US tour today
- She visited The Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University ‘as part of her ongoing work to elevate the importance of the early years to lifelong outcomes’
- Meanwhile, William – who is preparing to host his second Earthshot Prize gala tonight – will pay a trip to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, where he will later meet President Biden
- Tonight, William and Kate will host the Earthshot Prize ceremony, which has been described as a ‘Super Bowl’ moment for the Prince, at the MGM Music Hall
- However the event – and the couple’s US tour – has been dogged by controversy surrounding the Buckingham Palace race row and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s release of their bombshell Netflix trailer
- Royal Family news LIVE: Kate Middleton and Prince William continue three-day Earthshot tour in Boston
The Princess of Wales put on a stylish show for US royal fans today as she stepped out for her first solo engagement of her and William’s whirlwind three-day tour to Boston – once again smiling in the face of scandal amid ongoing controversy over the Buckingham Palace race row and Prince Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer.
Kate, 40, stepped out alone for the first time since arriving in the US on Wednesday, waving and beaming at the crowds of supporters as she arrived at The Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University, where she will ‘have a discussion with researchers about the advances in science that can be harnessed to achieve a promising future for every child’.
Meanwhile, her husband William, also 40, will make a visit to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where he will later hold a meeting with President Joe Biden, before heading off to his glitzy Earthshot Prize gala this evening – described by royal insiders as a ‘Super Bowl moment’ for the Prince.
Ahead of their engagements today, the couple shared a series of artsy black-and-white photos of themselves preparing for the event, which, along with their three-day US tour, has been dramatically overshadowed by royal controversies.
But Kate showed not a flicker of stress amid the ongoing scandal as she stepped out for her solo Harvard trip today, with the 40-year-old looking ever elegant in a blue houndstooth dress, which featured long sleeves and a collar, and which was paired with a pale blue handbag and a pair of dark blue heels.
The Princess of Wales put on a stylish show for US royal fans today as she stepped out for her first solo engagement of her and William’s whirlwind three-day tour to Boston
Kate showed not a flicker of stress amid ongoing royal scandals as she stepped out for her solo Harvard trip today, with the 40-year-old looking ever elegant in a blue houndstooth dress
Upon her arrival at Harvard University, Kate was invited to sign the official guest book, before she joined a meeting with researchers ‘about the advances in science that can be harnessed to achieve a promising future for every child’
The Princess’s appearance comes after the very eco-friendly plans for the couple’s Earthshot gala were revealed today – with a lengthy list of clean, green measures shared ahead of the event.
Needless to say, William and Kate need this evening’s event to go off without a hitch. While much pressure was already being placed on the gala – which has been described as the Prince’s ‘Super Bowl moment’ – that weight increased tenfold in the wake of the controversies that have overshadowed the couple’s US tour.
The same Harvard University guest book was signed by King Charles III back in 1986
While the Prince and Princess of Wales have not faltered in their engagements thus far, remaining cool, calm and collected, at least on the surface, behind-the-scenes, the Monarchy is grappling with two large scandals, both of which have unfolded during the couple’s first US trip in eight years.
On Tuesday night, hours before William and Kate touched down at Boston Logan International Airport, the Prince’s own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, sparked a furious race row when she was accused of making racist comments to black domestic abuse campaigner Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace event.
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.
Then, on Wednesday morning – the first full day of engagements for the pair – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dropped the trailer for their bombshell Netflix documentary in a move that has been described as a ‘declaration of war’ by Palace insiders.
The teaser trailer dispelled any hopes that the Sussexes are willing to work towards a ceasefire in their acrimonious battle with the Royal Family.
As well as including dozens of supposedly private pictures from their family album, the footage includes a voiceover from Harry saying gravely, ‘no-one sees what’s happening behind closed doors’ over a black and white picture of his wife on an armchair, apparently crying.
The film then immediately cuts away to a shot focusing on a pinched-looking William and Kate at the 2019 Commonwealth Service in London, with the Sussexes sitting meekly behind them.
The message, say royal sources, is unmistakable. ‘I don’t see how anyone could view it as anything other than a declaration of war,’ said one.
However, William and Kate have pushed on with their tour through it all, seemingly remaining steadfastly cool and calm – and all the while with wide smiles on their faces whenever they have been in front of the cameras.
Yesterday afternoon, their composure was put to the test once again when they came face-to-face with an African-American Reverend who gave a lecture about the ‘legacy of colonialism’ at their Earthshot launch on Wednesday – just hours after news of the Buckingham Palace race row emerged.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to host their glitzy, eco-friendly Earthshot Prize gala in Boston this evening – and the couple shared a glimpse at some of their last-minute preparations on Instagram today
In the artsy black-and-white photos, the Princess of Wales is seen strutting across a lit-up stage surrounded by greenery, while her husband is pictured chatting with organizers
Needless to say, William and Kate need this evening’s event to go off without a hitch. While much pressure was already being placed on the gala – which has been described as the Prince’s ‘Super Bowl moment’ – that weight increased tenfold in the wake of the controversies that have overshadowed the couple’s US tour
The Prince and Princess of Wales came together with Reverend Mariama White-Hammond for their third official engagement on Thursday, which saw them visiting Boston Harbor Defenses despite the biting cold to learn about the impact of rising sea levels on the city’s shoreline.
If the couple felt any awkwardness at being reunited with Reverend White-Hammond – who urged the crowds at their Earthshot Prize launch on Wednesday to ‘consider the legacy of colonialism and racism’ as the Prince and Princess watched on from the wings – they did not allow it to show on their faces.
Although insiders insisted that Kate and William were ‘determined’ not to get side-tracked from their mission to launch the Prince’s Earthshot Prize awards in the US, the issues of race and equality were quickly brought to the forefront of the event by Reverend White-Hammond’s speech.
Just minutes before William and Kate took to the podium at the launch event, the Reverend, who serves as the city’s Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space, gave a strong speech in which she told the crowd to ‘consider the legacy of colonialism and racism’, particularly when it comes to their impact on climate change.
She continued: ‘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.’
Although no mention was made about Lady Susan, who was accused of making racist comments to black domestic abuse campaigner Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace event on Tuesday night, few could fail to connect the controversy with Reverend White-Hammond’s remarks.
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