Prince William keeps focus on environment during Earthshot awards trip to Boston

British royal couple keep busy in Massachusetts amid family drama

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, AP

The royal couple are greeted by Lt Governor Karyn Polito, centre, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, back, and first lady Lauren Baker, back left, as they arrive at Boston Logan International Airport. AP

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston on a rainy day before the Earthshot awards. AFP

Ms Wu and her family chat with the British royal couple. AFP

The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown photos of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Boston in 1976. AP

The royal couple join governor-elect Maura Healey, centre, and Ms Wu, right, in pushing a green button to illuminate buildings in Boston with green light. AP

The royal couple speak with Ms Healey during a welcoming event at City Hall Plaza in Boston. EPA

Massachusetts governor-elect Maura Healey looks on as Britain's Prince William is handed a basketball by his wife Kate at a Boston Celtics game. AP

Prince William, centre, and wife Kate, right, are greeted by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum before the start of the Celtics-Heat NBA game in Boston, Massachusetts. EPA

The Prince and Princess of Wales look on as Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game. AP

Prince William, Kate and Emilia Fazzalari, wife of Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck at the Boston Celtics game. AP

The Prince and Princess of Wales discuss the players' skills at the Boston Celtics game. EPA

Fans take pictures of Prince William during halftime. EPA

The royal couple sit with Ms Wu, left, and Ms Healy, second left. EPA

Ms Wu, Ms Healey and the Prince and Princess of Wales watch the game. AP

Fans take photographs with the royal couple during the game. AP

Former Boston Celtics player Satch Sanders speaks with Prince William. AP

The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with teenage climate activist Ollie Perrault. EPA

Prince William visits Greentown Labs in Somerville. Reuters

Prince William and his wife Kate continued their Boston, Massachusetts, trip on Thursday in the lead-up to an awards ceremony for the Earthshot Prize on Friday.

Keeping the focus on the environment, on Thursday, the pair made a visit Greentown Labs, a climate tech start-up, in the city of Somerville, where Prince William issued a warning about the future of the planet, saying: “For all of us, the time is ticking.”

They are also scheduled to visit Roca, a non-profit that focuses on reducing youth violence.

It is the couple's first trip to the US in nearly a decade and their first visit abroad since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Their three-day trip to the US has been overshadowed by the growing race row over comments made by the future king's godmother, as the monarchy faces new allegations of racism.

Lady Susan Hussey has resigned from her role in the royal household and apologised after she repeatedly questioned Ngozi Fulani, a prominent black British domestic abuse activist, about where she “really came from” during a Buckingham Palace reception.

Their trip also coincides with the release of the trailer for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's Netflix docuseries.

The one-minute trailer for the series, released on Friday, featured never-before-seen photographs of the couple, who live in California. In one part of the trailer, Meghan appears to be wiping away tears while Prince Harry sits and tilts his head back, seemingly in distress.

A Kensington Palace spokesman has reiterated comments made before the trip that the Prince and Princess of Wales would not be “distracted” by other things this week and their focus was on meeting communities and local people across Boston before the Earthshot awards.

“My grandmother was one of life's optimists. And so am I,” Prince William said in a statement on Wednesday.

“That is why last year we launched The Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire home and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet.”

During a lighter moment of the visit, the couple met eight-year-old Henry Dynov-Teixeira, who was dressed as a King's Guardsman.

The boy handed the Princess of Wales a bunch of red roses and said he was “thrilled” to meet the couple in person.

“I am going to scream and tell my best friend that I am now famous,” Henry said.

On Wednesday night, the couple were treated to courtside seats at the Boston Celtics game, where they met Celtics star player Jayson Tatum.

The royal couple and the NBA team also celebrated the achievements of 15-year-old climate activist Ollie Perrault.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu greeted the royal couple at city hall during a welcoming ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

Their trip to the US city coincides with one being made by President Joe Biden, who will be in town for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reception.

The White House said Mr Biden “intends to greet” the royal couple when he is Boston but that details are still being finalised.

The couple on Friday will reveal the five winners of this year's Earthshot Prize and will also visit Harvard's Centre on the Developing Child.

They are also scheduled to tour the JFK Library with Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former president John F Kennedy.

Press Association contributed to this report