Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton and Prince William wrapped their first day in the U.S. with a visit to one of Boston’s beloved sports teams.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance on Wednesday night at the TD Garden to watch the Boston Celtics take on the Miami Heat.
The famously sporty couple sat courtside with former professional basketball player and Massachusetts Governor-Elect Maura Healey, Celtics legend Thomas “Satch” Sanders, and the team’s two principal owners and their wives. Kate and William chatted with those seated next to them and clapped enthusiastically throughout the game, which the Celtics won.
William and Kate, both 40, shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the Celtics warming up before the game. “Let’s go Celtics, let’s go!” they captioned the picture.
The couple arrived in Boston on Wednesday ahead of the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony, which will take place on Friday. During the basketball game, there were moments nodding to the arrival of Earthshot in the city. During the Celtics’ tradition of recognizing a “Hero Among Us” during each game, they honored a local 15-year-old climate activist for their work positively impacting the community. During a break in the game, William and Kate stood up to chat with the teen.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
The couple also met members of the Celtics family, including representatives of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, which provides grassroots programming and strategic funding to local organizations serving at-risk populations. They also heard about the “Curbside Care” mobile unit, which through a partnership with Boston Medical Center will provide comprehensive, streamlined care to mothers and infants in the first six weeks of life right at patient doorsteps — an issue of importance to Kate.
BRIAN SNYDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton
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This isn’t Kate and Prince William’s first time at an NBA game. When they visited New York City in 2014, the couple had front-row seats as they watched the Brooklyn Nets play the Cleveland Cavaliers — while sharing a box of popcorn!
Their outing also included some star encounters, from posing for pictures with LeBron James to shaking hands with Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
Their night out at the Barclays Center also included the ultimate moment of going to a professional sports game: an appearance on the Jumbotron!
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Beyonce, Kate Middleton and JAY-Z
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ visit to Boston officially kicked off earlier on Wednesday, when they appeared at Boston City Hall alongside Mayor Michelle Wu. There, they started the countdown to the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony by lighting landmarks across the city green.
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In a speech outside Boston City Hall, William thanked the “hardy Bostonians” for braving the rainy weather.
“We cannot wait to celebrate the Earthshot Prize finalists later on 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,” he said.
