It’s been hailed as Prince William’s ‘Super Bowl’ moment – and the royal seems determined to ensure his glitzy, eco-friendly Earthshot Prize gala tonight is nothing short of a triumphant touchdown.
On the surface, the star-studded event has all the trappings of a glamorous Hollywood awards show, from its high-profile prep to its celebrity guest list, which includes the likes of Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox and Rami Malek.
But while William and Kate will no doubt hope the A-list crowd will help draw positive attention to their event – which takes place in the shadow of Buckingham Palace’s race line and following the Netflix trailer drop of Prince Harry and Meghan’s bombshell – they’re also very keen to make sure not a single foot is left out when it comes to the gala’s eco-friendly theme.
To that end, the couple – who today boosted the hype surrounding the event by posting a series of artistic black and white images of themselves getting ready – have set up a crowd very “green” measures for the evening party, ranging from wearing “upcycled” outfits on the red carpet to using burlap decor and a repurposed green carpet.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to host their glitzy, eco-friendly Earthshot Prize gala in Boston tonight – and the couple shared a glimpse of some of their last-minute preparations on Instagram today.
In the artistic black and white photos, the Princess of Wales is seen strutting around on a lighted stage surrounded by greenery, while her husband is pictured chatting with the organizers
In short, the Earthshot Prize – and the accompanying TV broadcast – should be one of the most eco-friendly TV events in history.
Before guests even arrive at the gala, they will have received a very green dose of eco-responsible advice and rules to follow, with attendees encouraged to “consider their clothes” for the occasion and opt for reusable sets, or have already been purchased second hand.
Customer travel plans have also received environmental updates: all transport used with Boston is electric or hybrid and all “unavoidable” flights that have been taken have been “recorded and CO2e impacts have been calculated and balanced” .
Even William and Kate flew to the US on a British Airways commercial flight – no doubt hoping to avoid the controversy that has plagued the Sussexes over their repeated use of private jets, despite the couple calling themselves environmentalists.
Then, upon arrival at the event, guests will be treated to a host of eco-friendly measures, from plant-focused decor to vegan and vegetarian-only dining options.
Instead of a red carpet for the stars, last year’s green carpet is repurposed – and then it will be recycled.
The entry and event itself will feature over three acres of plants, including New England-grown evergreen and deciduous trees — “all native and locally grown,” the new CEO of New England explained. Earthshot, Hannah Jones, formerly Nike’s Senior Director of Sustainability.
All flowers are also locally grown within a 100 mile radius of MGM Music Hall in Boston. Most are plug plants, wrapped in burlap to keep them as green as possible and will be donated to a local community organization after the show.
BBC Studios, which is hosting the event and won a BAFTA for last year’s show, flew more than 10 staff out of a team of 150, hiring local businesses instead.
No gas lighting will be used, all fixtures being powered by LED batteries and charged locally in Massachusetts.
Needless to say, William and Kate need tonight’s event to go off without a hitch. While a lot of pressure was already on the gala – which has been described as the Prince’s “Super Bowl moment” – that weight has increased tenfold following the controversies that overshadowed the couple’s US tour.
The event is to take place at Boston’s MGM Music Hall – and the couple have taken several extreme measures to ensure the gala is as eco-friendly as possible.
The star hotel is within walking distance of the site and everyone is encouraged to use the tram or take a fleet of electric and hybrid taxis.
Even the makeup used is largely vegan and certified cruelty-free, while the food served to stars and crew is plant-based – and there’s a ban on single-use plastics.
Ms Jones said: ‘We are an environmental organization and will strive diligently to consider our own environmental impact in everything we do.
Guests at the event are encouraged to wear repurposed, vintage or second-hand clothes – and William and Kate (seen at a red carpet event in May) are expected to follow that advice.
“We encourage everyone who comes to the awards to choose the least polluting option possible. What is not will be compensated.
Needless to say, William and Kate need tonight’s event to go off without a hitch. While a lot of pressure was already on the gala – which has been described as the prince’s “Super Bowl moment” – that weight has increased tenfold following the controversies that overshadowed the couple’s US tour.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales have not wavered in their commitments so far, remaining calm and collected, at least on the surface, behind the scenes the monarchy is grappling with two major scandals, all of which have two took place during the couple’s first trip to the United States in eight years.
On Tuesday evening, hours before William and Kate landed at Boston Logan International Airport, the prince’s own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, sparked a furious race when she was accused of making racist comments to black domestic violence activist Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace. an event.
As William and Kate were in full flight, their Kensington Palace spokesperson issued a statement condemning the ‘unacceptable’ comments from Lady Hussey – who has resigned from her role in the royal household – but the controversy has already cast a shadow casts a dark shadow over what it meant to be a “Super Bowl” moment for the Prince.
Then, on Wednesday morning – the first full day of engagements for the couple – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dropped the trailer for their Netflix bombshell documentary in a move that has been described as a ‘declaration of war’ by insiders. From the palace.
The trailer dashed any hopes the Sussexes are willing to work towards a ceasefire in their acrimonious battle with the Royal Family.
As well as including dozens of supposedly private photos from their family album, the footage includes a voiceover of Harry saying gravely, ‘no one sees what’s going on behind closed doors’ over a black and white photo of his wife on an armchair, apparently crying. .
The film then immediately cuts to a shot centered on William and Kate looking pinched at the 2019 Commonwealth Service in London, with the Sussexes sitting obediently behind them.
The message, say royal sources, is unequivocal. “I don’t see how anyone could see it as anything other than a declaration of war,” said one.
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