William & Kate’s BIG TRIP

Stateside! As Prince William and Princess Kate prepare for their upcoming trip to the U.S., insiders reveal their top-secret plans

- JAIME HARKIN

It’s been a challenging few months for Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate. The pair had just relocated from their longtime home at Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor when William’s beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at age 96 on Sept. 8. A long and grueling mourning period followed, complete with 10 days of events that culminated with a state funeral on Sept. 19. Three days later, the Prince and Princess of Wales were back at work for their first official engagement.

Fortunately, they have something to look forward to: their upcoming trip to America. In early December, William and Kate (who share Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4) are headed to Boston to attend the second Earthshot Prize awards. It will be the couple's first visit to the United States since 2014. "It's been an emotional time for William and Kate dealing with the death of the queen," says an insider. "They are very excited about returning to the States for the first time in eight years."

William and Kate, both 40, are hoping to mix business with pleasure during their travels. "They're very passionate about Earthshot," says a second insider. The Earthshot Prize is awarded to five winners for their contributions to environmentalism; in September, William made a video appearance at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, where he said "protecting the environment" was also a cause close to his "grandmother's heart." Adds the second insider: "William and Kate are hoping to pay homage to Elizabeth II, who was a keen environmentalist."

▶THE ITINERARY