When the Prince and Princess of Wales Came to Boston
Scenes from the Earthshot Prize Awards. Plus, the Women’s Lunch Place Spaghetti Dinner and a Joey O’Donnell film premiere.
Prince William and Princess Kate chatting with Rami Malek. / Photo via the Earthshot Prize/Pip Cowley
The Earthshot Prize Awards
MGM Music Hall at Fenway
December 2, 2022
The Prince and Princess of Wales took a risk in choosing Boston to host their Earthshot Prize Awards; the fans at a Celtics game offered them a distinctly lukewarm reception, and it was incongruous, to say the least, to stare at the back of HRH’s bald head at Piers Park in East Boston, with the steeple of the Revolution-spurring Old North Church visible beyond.
Meanwhile, the main event was genuinely impressive. Held at the MGM Music Hall to award £1 million each to five climate activists around the world, the evening included appearances by the likes of Oscar winner Rami Malek, incomparable diva Annie Lennox, and funniest living human Catherine O’Hara. Also spotted on the red carpet were such illustrious locals as Dr. and Dr. Uzo and Erik Erlingsson and power broker Micho Spring.
There was some grumbling about the fact that the bathrooms would be unavailable during the ceremony, and one clever guest flouted the “no drinks at your seat” rule by filling his reusable water bottle with vodka. The evening’s announcer had to beg everyone to sit down, “…even you rich people in front,” and then made a tasteless joke about the evening’s only carbon emissions coming from the crew after eating hot dogs. Other interesting moments included the royal couple’s walk onstage to the curious musical choice of “Bette Davis Eyes,” and images of plastic garbage playing onscreen while David Beckham made his entrance. That said, the awardees, whose acceptance speeches were made via satellite, lent the proceedings real heft.
As one guest put it, “It’s like the Oscars, only about something that matters.” “Yeah,” said a friend. “Now I’m picturing Will Smith walking up on stage and slapping Prince William.”
Photo via the Earthshot Prize/Kirsty O’Connor
David Beckham (sans Posh Spice) flew in from Qatar to announce an Earthshot winner.
Photo by Michael Blanchard
Sandy and Paul Edgerley working the “green carpet.”
Photo via the Earthshot Prize/Pip Cowley
The legendary Annie Lennox performing.
Photo via the Earthshot Prize/Kirsty O’Connor
R & B duo Chloe x Halle raised the roof.
The ballroom of the Fairmont Copley Plaza was transformed into a trattoria for the occasion. / Photo by Rick Friedman
Women’s Lunch Place Spaghetti Dinner
Fairmont Copley Plaza
October 21, 2022
The Back Bay women’s shelter celebrated its 40th anniversary with its annual Spaghetti Dinner, and rarely has a plate of pasta done so much good.
Photo by Rick Friedman
Tech pioneer Jim Manzi (right) talking with Cathy and Donald Miller.
Photo by Rick Friedman
Wall Street Journal alum Bill Bulkeley with his wife, Deb, daughter Laura, and son-in-law Christian Larwood.
Photo by Rick Friedman
Board member and event cochair Janine Danielson (far left) and her staff of accounting whizzes at LGA.
The bright-shining marquee. / Photo by LipOfSkyPhoto.com
Joey O’Donnell Film Premiere
Revere Hotel and AMC Boston Common
November 6, 2022
In its years of raising money to battle cystic fibrosis, this event has attracted an A-list crowd to graze on delicious food before getting a sneak peek at a soon-to-be-released movie. This past November, it was the Netflix drama The Swimmers.
Photo by LipOfSkyPhoto.com
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation head Pam Spitzer with Wyoming real estate titan Paul del Rossi.
Photo by LipOfSkyPhoto.com
Concessions kingpin Joe O’Donnell with activist Kristina Hare Lyons and her nightlife mogul husband, Patrick.
Photo by LipOfSkyPhoto.com
The crew from Serafina, one of the many restaurants that fed a hungry and appreciative crowd.
Photo by LipOfSkyPhoto.com
Ski-industry visionaries Tyler (left) and Brian Fairbank flanking the stunning Giovanna Fessenden (left) and Vikki Fairbank.
First published in the print version of the February 2023 issue with the headline, “The Royals Are Coming!”
Previously
Dispatches from Boston’s Swankiest Parties (January 2023 issue)
