Prince William and Kate Middleton land in Boston for US trip amid royal race row

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston today at the start of a whirlwind three-day trip to the US.

The couple flew in on a commercial flight from London, landing pouring rain – even as a storm was brewing within the Monarchy back at home. 

William and Kate’s arrival in Boston came amid a furious race row that was sparked by the Prince’s own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen. 

Lady Hussey resigned from the royal household today, just hours before the Prince and Princess of Wales touched down in the US, after she was accused of racism at a Buckingham Palace reception set up by Queen Consort Camilla.

But William and Kate are ‘determined’ not to be side-tracked from their mission to launch the Prince’s Earthshot Prize awards in America and meet as many people from the local area as possible.

A spokesman described the trip as a ‘huge moment’ for them.

It is the first time that the couple has visited the US since 2014. Since then, Harry and Meghan have set up home in the States amid a blaze of anger and recriminations against the royal family. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston today at the start of a whirlwind three-day trip to the US, flying in on a commercial British Airways flight – amid a controversial race row 

William and Kate smiled happily in front of the waiting photographers, despite their arrival in Boston coming just hours after the Prince’s godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, was accused of making racist comments at a Buckingham Palace event

Kate Middleton, 40, put on an elegant display in a navy blue suit and matching high heels, accessorising the look with a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana 

Kate, 40, flew the British flag with her choice of ensemble, opting to don a £1,490 ($2,190) midnight blue blazer from UK-based fashion brand Alexander McQueen – the same label that designed her wedding dress

The couple were greeted by Governor Baker of Massachusetts, with William, 40, referring to his adored grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a statement made upon their arrival, describing her as one of life’s great optimists. 

He said: ‘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.

‘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. She remembered her 1976 bicentennial visit with great fondness.

‘My grandmother was one of life’s optimists. And so am I. That is why last year we launched the Earthshot Prize with the ambition to create a truly global platform to inspire hope and urgent optimism as we look to save the future of our planet.

‘To the people of Boston, thank you. I’m so grateful to you for allowing us to host the second year of the Earthshot prize in your great city. Catherine and I can’t wait to meet many of you in the days ahead.’

The Princess of Wales put on an incredibly elegant display in a £1,490 ($2,190) midnight blue blazer by British fashion brand Alexander McQueen – the same label that designed her wedding dress. 

She paired the chic jacket with a pair of matching trousers and a knitted turtleneck, adding a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that once belonged to the late Princess Diana.  

In line with the eco-credentials of the Earthshot Prize, which is designed to highlight and support some of the most pioneering projects to protect the environment today, the couple flew commercially and will travel in a hybrid Range Rover throughout their time in the city.

Although President Biden is by coincidence in the city tomorrow on Friday, there are no plans at this stage for them to meet. 

‘Their schedule hasn’t changed,’ a spokesman said.

William and Kate’s hugely-anticipated arrival is attracting wall-to-wall coverage in the US and will launch at City Hall in Boston where they will be formally greeted by Mayor Michelle Wu, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the assassinated former President John F Kennedy, and presidential climate change envoy, Secretary John Kerry.

It will be the first chance the public get to see the Prince and Princess, before they launch a special countdown to the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony.

This week Prince William will also visit the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

The couple exited their plane privately and greeted photographers inside the airport terminal, walking down the stairs to greet the waiting crowd 

The Prince and Princess of Wales were greeted at Logan International Airport by Governor Baker of Massachusetts, with William referring to his adored late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a statement made upon their arrival

William and Kate had a quick chat with Governor Baker inside the terminal, where they were protected by a host of police officers and security guards 

The couple arrived at Logan International Airport on a commercial British Airways flight 

He and his wife will learn about the work that local organisations are doing to mitigate the risk of rising sea levels in Boston and will tour Greentown Labs, in the nearby town of Somerville, to get an insight into the development of innovative green technologies.

They will also spend time at Roca, a non-profit organisation supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

It’s a theme Kate will take with her to the world-famous Harvard University when she visits the Centre on the Developing Child.

In 2021 Kate launched her own Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which is working with organisations to help youngsters between the crucially formative ages of birth to five.

However, tomorrow’s gala awards ceremony is undoubtedly the focus of their visit – and William has harnessed their royal star power to reel in a host of celebrity backers.

Singers Billie Eilish and Annie Lennox, and actor Rami Malik will lead a stellar line-up for the Prince of Wales’ Earthshot Prize awards as he and his wife roll out the red carpet stateside this week for what one insider described as the Prince’s ‘Super Bowl’ moment.

William is passionate about the awards he devised to highlight individuals and organisations developing practical solutions to the global environmental crisis.

Five winners will each be given £1 million ($1.2 million) in prize money, so the stakes are high.

Sources say he sees Earthshot as part of William’s increasing ‘global leadership’ role.

‘It’s a big moment for him on the world stage,’ one added.

Boston was the natural home for Earthshot in the US because the awards were inspired by lunar programme Moonshot, which was launched by JFK, who was born in the city.

Other names performing at the MGM Music Hall in Boston include Ellie Goulding and Beyonce proteges Chloe x Halle.

A royal source said: ‘The prize has become the Prince’s Super Bowl moment of the year, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save our planet’s future.’

However a shadow has been cast over the event in the past 24 hours after William’s godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, was accused of racism. 

Lady Hussey, 83, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen, quit her role in the royal household on Wednesday after she allegedly refused to believe a black domestic abuse campaigner, Ngozi Fulani, was British and asked her: ‘What part of Africa are you from?’ as they spoke at an event at Buckingham Palace yesterday. 

The resignation is humiliating for Camilla and a potential PR disaster for William, whose landmark three-day tour is now at risk of being overshadowed by the race row. 

His spokesperson spoke out to condemn Lady Hussey’s ‘unacceptable’ comments hours before the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in the US, saying: ‘I want to address the story relating to a guest attending a reception at Buckingham Palace last night.

‘This is a matter for Buckingham Palace but as the Prince of Wales’ spokesperson I appreciate you’re all here and understand you’ll want to ask about it. So let me address it head on.

‘I was really disappointed to hear about the guests experience at Buckingham Palace last night. Obviously, I wasn’t there, but racism has no place in our society. The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect.’

A shadow has been cast over the Prince and Princess of Wales’ trip after William’s godmother Lady Susan Hussey was accused of making racist comments towards black domestic abuse campaigner Ngozi Fulani (circled) at Buckingham Palace

Ngozi (pictured centre left at Buckingham Palace yesterday), director of the east London charity Sistah Space, claims a royal aide, believed to be Lady Susan Hussey (right), asked her: ‘What part of Africa are you from?’

He added that the Prince is ‘aware of the comments’ and ‘thinks the course of action taken is correct’.

William and Kate will forge ahead with their planned events and engagements during their US trip, culminating in the Earthshot ceremony, where they will choose five winners.  

Among the 15 finalists vying for £1 million that will be awarded to each of the five category winners are a cleaner-burning stove initiative in Kenya and a bubble barrier made in the Netherlands to prevent plastics from entering oceans.

There are also finalists from the UK for the first time, with two British-based entries selected.

Notpla Hard Material – a start-up run by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez in London – makes packaging from seaweed and plants as an alternative to single-use plastic, and has already produced more than one million biodegradable takeaway food boxes for the firm Just Eat.

The other UK finalist – Low Carbon Materials, based in County Durham – uses unrecyclable plastic waste to make traditional concrete blocks carbon-zero.

One US-based company secured a spot on the list: LanzaTech. 

The organisation created gas fermentation technology that ‘traps pollution and turns it into something useful’.  

Broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, a supporter of the Earthshot Prize since its inception last year, will voice the opening of the show, while Oscar-winning actress and Earthshot judging panel member Cate Blanchett will narrate a lookback at the 2021 winners.

The awards will be broadcast on the BBC in the UK on Sunday at 5.30pm GMT and on PBS in the US on Monday at 2pm ET. 

Another PR win for the Sussexes? Pictures emerge of Meghan Markle starring as guest speaker at ‘power of women’ charity event – as Kate and William fly in to the US for charm offensive tour overshadowed by latest Buckingham Palace race row 

• Meghan, 41, spoke at the event on Tuesday evening in Indianapolis
• Guests were not allowed to take pictures inside the benefit held on Tuesday
• The Duchess’s friend, Omid Scobie, released three images of Meghan tonight
• She was beaming in a green dress with keyhole detailing during the discussion
• Event was hosted by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana at Marriott hotel

BY BRITTANY CHAIN AND MARTIN ROBINSON, CHIEF REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE 

New photos have emerged of Meghan Markle co-hosting a ‘power of women’ charity benefit as William and Kate head to the US for their first trip in eight years – and hours after the Royal palace made attempts to stave off new allegations of racism. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, jetted into the Midwest from California to be interviewed on-stage in the event billed ‘The Power of Women: An Evening with Meghan’. 

The ‘moderated discussion’ took place alongside Rabbi Sandy Sasso – the first woman ordained by the Reconstructionist Judaism movement at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis. 

While guests were banned from taking any pictures, Meghan’s friend Omid Scobie shared several snaps from the crowd to Twitter this evening – in what some have labelled a strategic PR move in the wake of Buckingham Palace’s racism debacle, which is threatening to overshadow the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three-day tour in the US.

Pictures of Meghan Markle show her beaming as she was celebrated as the guest of honor at a ‘power of women’ charity benefit last night

Meghan wore a green dress with a keyhole cutout at the neckline and purple peep toe heels to match the backdrop as she sat opposite Ms Sasso, who was wearing a grey power suit. 

In his tweet, Scobie – a friend of the Sussexes – wrote: ‘Last night, Duchess Meghan took part in a moderated discussion focused on women’s empowerment and supporting young girls.’ 

The images were released just hours before William and Kate touched down in Boston today, marking their first trip to the US in eight years. 

Meghan’s benefit was hosted by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a non-profit which assists local woman experiencing hardship or disadvantage.

Prior keynote speakers at Women’s Fund benefits include former first lady Michelle Obama, who drew a crowd of more than 12,000 people at the home arena of the Indiana Pacers in 2018, according to organizers.

Tickets for the event cost a whopping $500 per head, while entire tables cost $5,000. 

Scobie’s post attracted dozens of comments from fans, some of whom also claimed to have been in attendance to witness the ‘uplifting’ discussion.

Meghan wore a green dress with a keyhole cutout at the neckline and purple peep toe heels to match the backdrop as she sat opposite Rabbi Sandy Sasso

‘It was amazing and an honor… she is kind genuine and intelligent. A blessing to se her,’ one person said.

Another added: ‘Heard from squaddies at the event that it was an amazing uplifting discussion. Tons of great energy and she looked gorgeous as always.’

It is not known how much Meghan will have been paid for the appearance, if at all, however PR experts believe she could earn up to £1 million per speech in the US. 

The online description for the event said: ‘Women’s Fund is proud to welcome Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, to Indianapolis.

‘The Duchess is a mother, feminist, and champion of human rights. She is a lifelong advocate for women and girls, a constant thread she weaves through humanitarian and business ventures.

‘Rabbi Sandy Sasso, an acclaimed writer and community leader, will serve as moderator for the evening.

‘Tables for Power of Women are available for purchase to groups and organizations that support the mission of Women’s Fund.’