Prince William issued a heartfelt thanks for Boston's "warm welcome" after the couple arrived in the US city for the start of their three-day tour. He said they were "extremely grateful to Governor Baker and the First Lady of Massachusetts", adding: "Catherine and I can't wait to meet many of you in the days ahead."
Among the A-listers playing a key role during the night there will also be naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who will voice the show's opening, actress Cate Blanchett, who will narrate a look back to the five winners picked in 2021, and actor Rami Malek, one of the Prize's hosts.
Ahead of Kate and William's departure for the States, a source claimed both Kate and William were "extremely excited for the visit".
The source told People magazine: "They feel and appreciate the warmth and excitement of the American people for their return to the US and are really looking forward to meeting as many folks as possible."
Speaking about the Earthshot Prize, the insider added: "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."
The Prince and Princess' communications office, Kensington Palace, also expressed the pair's excitement ahead of their trip.
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A statement read: "The Prince and Princess are looking forward to spending time in Boston, and to learning more about the issues that are affecting local people, as well as to celebrating the incredible climate solutions that will be spotlighted through The Earthshot Prize."
This marks Kate and William's third official visit to the US.
They first headed to California in 2011, at the end of an overseas trip that had mostly taken place in Canada.
Three years later, they crossed again the pond to carry out a series of engagements in New York City.Prince William was meant to pay a brief visit to the Big Apple in September to attend the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, which aimed at both showcasing the work of the Prize's first year's finalists and winners as well as further analysing the planet's most pressing challenges.
However, as the event took place during the period of royal mourning in the aftermath of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales cancelled his attendance and sent instead a video message.
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In a poignant moment, Prince William also acknowledged that the trip represents his first overseas since the death of his grandmother the Queen, and thanked "the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston" for their "tributes to the late Queen."
The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to America’s Boston to visit a number of local associations supporting vulnerable people, see how the city is tackling the effects of climate change and learn more about the local approach to early childhood development.
The culmination of their trip will come on Friday, when they will lead the second award ceremony of the Earthshot Prize - to be aired by the BBC on Sunday at 5.30pm.
Launched by Prince William in October 2020, this decade-long initiative will award every year one £1million grant to each of the five winners presenting the best workable solutions to the most pressing issues planet earth faces - including climate change.
In his statement, William spoke of how he had been inspired by the Queen, saying: "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."
The event will feature an incredible line-up of artists, including singers Ellie Goulding and Billie Eilish.
