Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton paid a visit to Greentown Labs in Somerville last week to learn more about the organization’s efforts to help solve the climate crisis. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

A sea of umbrellas was the scene at Boston’s City Hall on Wednesday evening last week. Crowds of Bostonians eagerly awaited the UK royals as a downpour of rain fell. They were welcomed to the city by Governor-elect Maura Healy and Mayor Michele Wu.

Prince William and Princess Kate are visiting the Capital of Massachusetts to look into the work that organizations in Boston are doing to construct a more sustainable world and attend the second annual Earth Shot Prize awards ceremony. On Thursday, December 1, the couple visited Greentown Labs, here in Somerville.

The royal couple at the Earth Shot Prize awards ceremony in Boston. — Photo by Ana Celerier Salcedo

The Earth Shot Prize was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot speech” and is aimed at celebrating the current best solutions in helping to repair the planet.

On Thursday at Greentown Labs, Prince William and Kate Middleton met with the CEO of the lab, Emily Reichert, as well as the President of the Northeast Clean Energy Council and former mayor of Somerville, Joe Curtatone. They met to learn more about the history of Greentown Labs and its contributions to addressing the climate crisis on a global scale.

Greentown Labs defines itself as “a community of climate tech pioneers working to design a more sustainable world.”

Greentown Labs offers several spaces for climate tech startups to develop their products. They provide resources such as a prototyping lab, office, and community space. The Earth Shot Prize ceremony took Place Friday, December 2, at MGM Music Hall Fenway.