The Prince and Princess of Wales left on their first foreign tour on Wednesday since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in an effort to represent the monarchy’s younger face as it works to remain relevant in a contemporary, multicultural Britain.
The purpose of the three-day trip to Boston is to promote Prince William’s high-profile project to give millions of dollars to a new generation of environmental entrepreneurs who are creating anything from cleaner-burning stoves to leather substitutes. Along with tours of sustainability labs, at-risk youth programmes, and Boston’s coastline, participants will learn about the city’s efforts to battle climate change.
During a second quarter stoppage, the royal couple was introduced to the applauding Garden audience and briefly displayed on the television screen. However, a security guard moved in front of the camera, drawing a chorus of jeers.
The visit occurs fewer than three months after Queen Elizabeth passed away. During her 70-year reign, criticism of the monarchy was moderated by her personal popularity. William’s father, King Charles III, has made it plain that his monarchy would be more streamlined than previous ones, with less ceremony and grandeur.
Professor Arianne Chernock, an authority on contemporary British history, told Boston University students, “I think this is less about rescuing the Earth and more about saving the royal family.”To be really honest, we’ve seen Charles become king and spend his first few months in that role figuring out how to become a more relevant, more contemporary ruler. And I believe that William and Kate are experiencing a similar situation.
Regaining the hearts and minds of Americans is a crucial component of that reset, as William’s younger brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan have dominated the headlines since relocating to California in 2020. By producing movies and podcasts for Netflix and Spotify, Harry and Meghan have developed their own media presence while criticising the royal family for alleged bigotry and inappropriate treatment.
