The Prince and Princess of Wales made a grand entrance into the TD Garden Stadium, joining 20,000 basketball enthusiasts to support the Boston Celtics and raise awareness for the Earthshot Prize awards during their first day in the city.
William and Kate were seated courtside, alongside W.I.C.
Grousbeck and Emilia Fasolari, owners of the Celtics, as well as Governor-elect Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Looking effortlessly chic, the princess donned a vintage blue tweed jacket by Chanel, elegantly paired with black dress pants, while the prince exuded sophistication in a dark suit and chambray shirt.
As the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, resonated through the stadium, Kate and William stood respectfully, absorbing the patriotic atmosphere.
The anthem was performed by a semi-finalist from season 10 of the reality TV series, The Voice.
However, amidst the excitement, the royal couple encountered pockets of booing from some sections of the crowd when they were introduced by a stadium announcer and displayed on the jumbotron.
Undeterred, Kate and William maintained their smiles, engaging with fans and even taking photos, all while enthusiastically supporting their team and applauding points scored throughout the high-scoring game.
The energy in the packed arena intensified as the 17-time world champions faced off against the Miami Heat in downtown Boston.
Prior to tip-off, the royal duo had the opportunity to meet various members of the Celtics family, including representatives from the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.
This foundation focuses on providing grassroots programming and strategic funding to local organizations that serve at-risk or at-need populations.
As the game unfolded, digital advertising boards illuminated the arena in vibrant green, promoting the Earthshot Prize awards.
Spectators were treated to a promotional video highlighting the significance of the awards before the thrilling match commenced.
During halftime, with the game tied at 47-all, William and Kate witnessed the Celtics’ longstanding tradition of recognizing a local hero.
This time, the spotlight shone on Ollie Pero, a remarkable 15-year-old climate activist from East Hampton, Massachusetts.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Ollie, a leading member of the Youth Climate Leadership Program since the age of 11, was acknowledged for her tireless efforts.
She now spearheads the Youth Climate Action Mill, advocating for environmental justice, intersectional system change, and increased youth involvement in direct climate action.
Initially, royal aides had planned for the couple to depart after the third quarter.