Inside Prince William and Kate’s VERY eco-friendly Earthshot Prize gala

It’s been hailed as Prince William’s ‘Super Bowl’ moment, and the royals seem intent on making sure their glitzy, eco-friendly Earthshot Award gala tonight is nothing short of a triumphant touchdown.

On the surface, the star-studded event has all the makings of a glamorous Hollywood awards show, from its highly publicized preparation to its celebrity guest list, which includes Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox and Rami Malek.

But while William and Kate are no doubt hoping the A-list crowd will help draw positive attention to their event, which is taking place in the shadow of Buckingham Palace’s racing row and in the wake of the trailer drop for Prince Harry and Meghan Netflix. – are also very keen to ensure that not one foot is crossed in line when it comes to the gala’s green theme.

To that end, the couple, who today amplified the excitement surrounding the event by posting a series of artistic black-and-white images of themselves preparing for the event, have implemented a series of very “green” measures for the soiree of the event. night, from wearing ‘upcycled’ suits on the red carpet to wearing burlap décor and a repurposed green carpet.

In short, the Earthshot Prize, and its accompanying television broadcast, will be one of the greenest televised events ever.

Even before guests arrive at the gala, they will have been given a very green dose of eco tips and rules to follow, and attendees will be encouraged to “dress their clothes” for the occasion and opt for outfits that can be reused. or have already been bought second hand.

Travel plans for guests also received environmental updates: All transportation used with Boston is electric or hybrid and all “unavoidable” flights taken have been “recorded and CO2e impacts calculated and balanced.”

Even William and Kate traveled to the US on a commercial British Airways flight, no doubt hoping to avoid the controversy that has plagued the Sussexes over their repeated use of private jets, despite the couple declaring ecologist.

Then, upon arrival at the event, guests will be treated to a number of eco-friendly measures, from plant-focused decor to vegan and vegetarian catering options.

Instead of a red carpet for the stars to walk on, last year’s green carpet is being repurposed, and then recycled.

The entrance and the event itself will feature more than three acres of plants, including New England-grown evergreens and deciduous trees, “all native and locally grown,” explained Earthshot’s new CEO, Hannah Jones, a former Nike’s first female director of sustainability.

All flowers are also grown locally within a 100 mile radius of the MGM Music Hall in Boston. Most are ‘ball’ plants, wrapped in burlap, to stay as green as possible and will be donated to local community organizations after the show.

BBC Studios, which is hosting the event and won a BAFTA for last year’s show, has moved just 10 staff out of a team of 150, hiring local companies instead.

Gas lighting will not be used with all LED battery-powered fixtures that are charged locally in Massachusetts.

The star hotel is within walking distance of the venue 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 the stars and crew is plant-based, and single-use plastics are banned.

Ms Jones said: “We are an environmental organization and we will assiduously strive to think about our own environmental impact with everything we do.”

‘We are encouraging everyone attending the awards to choose the option with the least carbon footprint possible. What will not be compensated.

Needless to say, William and Kate need tonight’s event to run smoothly. While a lot of pressure was already being placed on the gala – which has been described as the Prince’s ‘Super Bowl moment’ – that weight was increased tenfold in the wake of the controversies that have cast a shadow over the couple’s US tour.

While the Prince and Princess of Wales have not wavered on their commitments thus far, keeping their cool, cool and collected, at least on the surface, behind the scenes, the Monarchy is grappling with two major scandals, both of which unfolded during the couple’s first trip to the United States in eight years.

On Tuesday night, hours before William and Kate were to land at Boston’s Logan International Airport, the Prince’s own godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, sparked a furious race feud when she was accused of making racist remarks to the violence advocate. black domestic Ngozi Fulani at Buckingham Palace. event.

While William and Kate were in mid-flight, their Kensington Palace spokesperson issued a statement condemning “unacceptable” comments made by Lady Hussey, who stepped down from her role in the royal household, however the controversy has already cast a dark shadow. about what it meant. 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 bombshell Netflix documentary in a move that has been described as a “declaration of war” by pundits. from Palace.

The teaser trailer dashed any hope that the Sussexes would be willing to work towards a ceasefire in their acrimonious battle with the Royal Family.

As well as including dozens of supposedly private photos from his family album, the footage includes a voiceover of Harry gravely saying, “no one sees what goes on behind closed doors” over a black-and-white photo of his wife in an armchair. , apparently crying. .

The film then immediately cuts to a shot focusing on a pinched-looking William and Kate at the 2019 Commonwealth Service in London, with the Sussexes sitting meekly behind them.

The message, royal sources say, is unmistakable. “I don’t see how anyone could see it as anything other than a declaration of war,” said one.