After days of royal engagements, Friday marks the marquee event of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ trip to Boston: The star-studded Earthshot Awards.
The event kicked off Friday afternoon with a “green carpet,” where A-list guests showed off their sustainable style ahead of the ceremony, which honors environmental innovators from around the world.
The star factor was notable: Annie Lennox, Chloe x Halle, and Ellie Goulding — all slated to perform at the event — walked the green carpet. Award ceremony presenters, including Oscar winner Rami Malek, “Schitt’s Creek” star Catherine O’Hara, and actress Shailene Woodley also stopped for the cameras, as did former soccer star David Beckham, who looked dapper in a tuxedo.
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There was a dress code at this year’s event: Guests were encouraged to dress sustainably.
William and Kate arrived a little after 5 p.m. and followed the dress code to the letter. Kate wore an off-the-shoulder green column gown by Solace London, which she rented(!) from the HURR platform. She teamed the gown with glittering pumps, clearly visible thanks to a knee-high slit in the back of the dress. Topping off the look? A jaw-dropping emerald and diamond choker that once belonged to William’s late mother, Princess Diana.
Earlier in the afternoon, the first round of guests to arrive included Utah Senator Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, who wore a delicate silver gown — with matching trousers beneath — and sparkling chandelier earrings. The former Massachusetts governor was decked out in black tie with just a hint of stylish stubble.
Close on their heels came special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, who, as a longtime resident of Beacon Hill, may have had the smallest carbon footprint of any of the Earthshot’s high-profile guests. He arrived with his daughter, Vanessa Kerry, who stunned in a red, one-shoulder gown, her blond hair pulled back into a chignon.
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“Divergent” star Woodley arrived in a lacy, all-black ensemble as onlookers snapped photos with their iPhones. The actress is a longtime environmental activist, who peacefully protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016.
Shortly afterward, Beckham arrived with a police escort, gave the crowd a wave, and was quickly whisked inside.
Goulding, a royal favorite who performed at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, arrived in a white gown with a wide belt, while Chloe and Halle Bailey, the R&B duo known as Chloe x Halle, wore full ballgowns in navy and chartreuse. Lennox, still rocking the cropped hair she first made famous with Eurythmics, donned a purple velvet blazer, a matching blouse, and pinstriped trousers.
The host of the awards, Clara Amfo, a British radio broadcaster, went with a chic black Vivian Westwood dress and sky-high ankle strap sandals.
More political luminaries also made the scene. Governor-elect Maura Healey arrived in black skirt and blazer, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wore a wine-colored, custom-made, repurposed gown designed by Timothy Westbrook. Governor Charlie Baker arrived with his wife, Lauren, on his arm, and, we hear, sat next to the William and Kate during the Earthshot ceremony itself.
The stream of guests started to arrive at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway around 3 p.m., many wearing gowns and suits with splashes of green. Fans stood behind guardrails on Lansdowne Street.
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Brittany Bowker can be reached at brittany.bowker@globe.com. Follow her @brittbowker and also on Instagram @brittbowker.