Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales in the US for three-day tour

The Prince and Princess of Wales shocked basketball fans by taking in an NBA game on the first day of their US tour. See photos.

Prince William and Catherine have returned to the world stage for the first time since the Queen’s death, arriving in the United States for the Prince’s prestigious global environmental awards.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were welcomed to Boston by Caroline Kennedy, the US ambassador to Australia and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, whose Moonshot initiative was the inspiration for Prince William to launch the Earthshot Prize in 2020.

A team of female Indigenous rangers protecting the Great Barrier Reef are among 15 finalists in line for five prizes worth almost $1.8m each, which will be awarded this Saturday (AEST).

Their visit comes as a new racism row to hit the royal family, which has seen Prince William’s godmother “stepping aside”.

Former Celtics player and coach Tom "Satch" Sanders joined the Prince and Princess of Wales at an NBA clash between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Picture: AFP

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, sat courtside for a NBA game between Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Picture: Getty Images

Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat tries to inbound the ball over Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics in the second half as Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales look on. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised basketball fans on Wednesday night, local time, by watching an NBA clash between Boston Celtics took on Miami Heat.

The were joined by Massachusetts Governor-Elect Maura Healey, Celtics legend Thomas “Snatch Sanders” and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

Catherine looked amused during an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at TD Garden in downtown Boston. Picture: AFP.

Prince William and Catherine are in the US for three days. Picture: Getty Images via AFP.

Prince William claps as he gets into the action. Picture: AFP.

The couple were not expected to stay for the whole game but did, seeing the Celtics claim victory.

They also posed for selfies while seated courtside.

Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu, Governor-elect Maura Healey, Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Emilia Fazzalari and her husband Celtics owner Wyc Grousebeck watch the National Basketball Association game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at TD Garden in downtown Boston,on November 30, 2022. (Photo by BRIAN SNYDER / POOL / AFP)

Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu, Governor-elect Maura Healey, Prince William, and Catherine chat courtside as Boston Celtics take on Miami Heat on Wednesday night local time. Picture: AFP.

Prince William and Catherine watch Boston Celtics play Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Picture: AFP

The royal couple stood for the National Anthem ahead of the NBA game. Picture: AFP.

Prince William said he and Catherine were “delighted to be back in the United States” for their first visit since 2014, and particularly to be in Boston which he said the Queen remembered with “great fondness” after her 1976 bicentennial visit.

“My grandmother was one of life’s optimists. And so am I,” the Prince said.

Prince William and Catherine attend an event to formally kick off Earthshot celebrations at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: AFP.

Prince William and Catherine with Mayor Michelle Wu kicking off Earthshot celebrations by lighting up Boston at Speaker’s Corner by City Hall. Picture: Getty Images.

Prince William and Catherine shelter under an umbrella as they arrive for Earthshot celebrations at City Hall Plaza in Boston. Picture: AFP.

Prince William and Catherine delighted crowds with their smiles. Picture: AFP.

Catherine meets with Mayor Michelle Wu at City Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: Getty Images.

“That is why 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.”

In addition to attending a NBA game on the first night of their three-day tour, they were also expected to meet US President Joe Biden.

Crowds of people cheer and took pictures of the royal couple as they arrived for the event in City Hall Plaza in Boston. Picture: Getty Images.

Hundreds of fans waited in the rain in Boston, Massachusetts, some holding signs. Picture: AFP.

A young royal fan wears an inflatable crown as she joins crowds outside City Hall Plaza. Picture: AFP.

Crowds gathered under the rain at City Hall Plaza. Picture: AFP.

Catherine and Prince William smiled happily in front of waiting media. Picture: Getty Images.

But the royals are not expected to see the US-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their trip, ahead of the long-awaited release of their Netflix docuseries.

Prince Harry and Markle are due in New York early next week for the Ripple of Hope Award Gala, arranged by a not-for-profit organisation named in honour of Mr Kennedy’s brother Robert.

The Sussexes have kept a public presence however as the Wales arrived in the US with the release of a new photo of their son Archie and their appearance in a new trailer for the Invictus Games.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: Getty Images.

The coupled were greeted by Governor Charlie Baker at Logan Airport. Picture: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images.

The Wales matched in suits. Picture: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images.

The royal couple are in the US for three days. Picture: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images. Picture: Images.

Saturday’s star-studded awards ceremony will feature actors Rami Malek and Catherine O’Hara, singers Billie Eilish and Ellie Goulding, and historian Sir David Attenborough.

Larissa Hale, who spearheaded the Queensland ranger program, said it “would be very, very humbling” to win.

Larissa Hale is a finalist in Prince William's second annual Earthshot Prize Awards. Picture: Supplied

“I was initially the first Indigenous female ranger co-ordinator for Queensland, and being the only woman in the room, it was a little bit daunting,” she said.

“I realised we needed to have more women on country doing land and sea management.”

She received state government support in 2018 and expanded the program from 34 to 124 women.

They combine ancient knowledge of the land and sea with modern tools including drones to monitor coral changes, in a model which could be replicated overseas.

Ms Hale said the program was designed to “protect our home and continue our traditions” in the face of climate change that was causing damaging coral bleaching events.

“We have made big first steps, but we have a long way still to go,” she said.

Originally published as Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales in the US for three-day tour