American media say William and Kate’s US visit is ‘floundering’ after a ‘rocky start’ on day two

After a Buckingham Palace race row threatened to overshadow US news coverage of the Prince and Princess of Wales arriving in Boston, day two of the trip was disrupted by the bombshell teaser for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s Netflix documentary.

Thursday marked the second day of William and Kate’s three-day visit in Boston, and many major US outlets did not offer detailed coverage of the couple’s activities for the day, which included visiting a green technology incubator and meeting at-risk youth.

What coverage there was frequently mentioned the clouds that have formed over the royal visit, starting with the Wednesday resignation of William’s godmother from a ceremonial palace role over her racist remarks to a black charity organizer.

The other shoe dropped with the Netflix teaser released on day two of the trip, prompting TMZ to write ‘one royal controversy has exploded and another is on the way.’ 

Newsweek wrote that the royal visit had ‘floundered’ and the New York Post noted it was off to a ‘rocky start’, while Time chose to focus extensively on the smattering of booing that greeted William and Kate at a Boston Celtics game the night they arrived. 

US press coverage of day two of William and Kate’s Boston trip was disrupted by the bombshell teaser for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix documentary

The Boston Globe, covering the visit on the ground, led with a straight-news account of William and Kate’s activities on day two of the trip, which did not mention of the controversies

Newsweek magazine offered a highly critical analysis of the trip’s second day, writing that the ‘royal couple’s tour of Boston floundered’ after the Netflix teaser was released

The Boston Globe, covering the visit on the ground, led with a straight-news account of William and Kate’s activities on day two of the trip, which did not mention the controversies swirling around the visit.

However, Globe columnist Kevin Cullen did offer readers an overview of the Buckingham Palace racism scandal, writing that ‘Prince William’s effort to showcase a new royal family in Boston has been distracted by the old one back in London.’  

Newsweek magazine offered a highly critical analysis of the trip’s second day, writing that the ‘royal couple’s tour of Boston floundered’ after the Netflix teaser ‘hinted at fresh royal bombshells’ involving William and Kate.

‘The immediate challenge for William and Kate will be the completion of the rest of their tour of Boston, where they are promoting the Earthshot Prize,’ Newsweek noted.

‘William’s Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday and is due to be the centerpiece of the U.S. tour,’ the report added.

‘But he will be playing on Harry and Meghan’s home turf and may find that he has already lost control of the narrative with two days still to go.’

The New York Post reported that William and Kate were ‘all smiles’ on Thursday despite the ‘rocky start’ to their trip

US Weekly likewise reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales were ‘all smiles’ despite the ‘explosive’ trailer for Meghan and Harry’s documentary

Elsewhere, the New York Post reported that William and Kate were ‘all smiles’ on Thursday despite the ‘rocky start’ to their trip.

‘William and Kate’s trip was already marred by another scandal before they even landed,’ the newspaper wrote, referring to the resignation of Lady Susan Hussey over her racially charged comments.

‘Fallout from the allegations cast a long shadow over what was supposed to be a successful trip — and were only made worse by the release of the trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix documentary,’ the Post added.

US Weekly likewise reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales were ‘all smiles’ during a visit to charity group Roca, noting they were ‘putting on their happy faces!’

The entertainment magazine quoted royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti, who said that Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer ‘shows how much they will go to any end at all for as much publicity as possible.’ 

‘To drop [the trailer] as they have on the first or second day of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s trip to the U.S. for the Earthshot Prize shows just exactly how much they wanted to hijack that publicity,’ Sacerdoti told the outlet. 

‘They will jump on his own brother’s trip to promote these environmental prizes in order to steal that limelight and get more attention,’ he added.

Celebrity news titan TMZ minced no words, declaring that ‘one royal controversy has exploded and another is on the way’

Time magazine, on the other hand, focused its coverage extensively on the smattering of boos hurled at William and Kate at Wednesday’s Boston Celtics game

Celebrity news titan TMZ minced no words, declaring that ‘one royal controversy has exploded and another is on the way.’

TMZ made note of the Lady Hussey scandal, adding: ‘And, then there’s Harry and Meghan … Netflix dropped a trailer for their upcoming documentary, and it’s clear as day they’re going after the fam.’ 

‘The timing couldn’t be worse for the Royals … the Lady Hussey scandal brought racist allegations back to the forefront, and the ‘Harry & Meghan’ doc will almost certainly stoke those flames,’ the outlet added.

However, TMZ dismissed the boos hurled at William and Kate at the Celtics game on Wednesday night, noting, ‘that’s the way Boston fans roll.’

Time magazine, on the other hand, focused its coverage extensively on the boos, which were mixed in with cheers and chants of ‘USA, USA.’ 

In an article headlined ‘Why Prince William and Kate Were Booed on Their U.S. Tour,’ Time attempted to connect the dots between the Lady Hussey scandal and the boorish reaction of Boston NBA fans.

‘The basketball snub occurred just hours after the royal family’s latest controversy unfolded on home soil; Lady Susan Hussey, William’s 83-year-old godmother and a long-standing lady of the household, resigned from her royal duties amid allegations of racist conduct,’ the magazine explained.

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An essay in Vogue argued there was a ‘deeper meaning’ to the royal couple’s Boston visit, calling it ‘an important exercise in restoring the royal family’s image within the US’

Town and Country magazine wrote that Kate and William’s encounter with a boy dressed as a member of The King’s Guard offered ‘a sweet reminder of home’

People Magazine highlighted another touching moment, when William was greeting a crowd of well-wishers, and spoke to a fan’s mother through a video call

Elsewhere, an essay in Vogue argued there was a ‘deeper meaning’ to the royal couple’s Boston visit, calling it ‘an important exercise in restoring the royal family’s image within the US.’

The Vogue senior living writer Elise Taylor noted that the visit ‘comes at a pivotal moment for the royal family’ after Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey last year ‘cast an unflattering light on both Buckingham and Kensington Palace.’ 

‘Indeed, the trailer from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series—where the Duke of Sussex comments that ‘no one sees what’s happening behind closed doors’—suggests that more details will soon emerge about their controversial departure,’ wrote Taylor.

She posed the question: ‘Will William and Kate’s charm offensive be enough?’ 

Other outlets found time to highlight some of the more lighthearted moments from the second day of the royal visit. 

Town and Country magazine wrote that Kate and William’s encounter with a boy dressed as a member of The King’s Guard offered ‘a sweet reminder of home.’

And People Magazine highlighted another touching moment, when William was greeting a crowd of well-wishers.

One woman in the crowd asked him to say hello to her mother in Tennessee, who was on a live video call, and the Prince readily agreed, waving to the camera and greeting the thrilled mother by name.