Boston prepares for prince and princess visit

At the newly refurbished City Hall Plaza, finishing touches are made to the staging area where Prince William and Princess Catherine will be welcomed to Boston Wednesday afternoon.

This is where the public will get its best glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales during their three-day visit to the Boston area.

It’s expected parking in the area will be restricted and there will be partial road closures in the area.

City officials are urging people who are planning to attend the Welcome event to use the MBTA.

People are also urged to pack their foul weather gear as heavy rain and strong winds are in the forecast.

“Right now, it’s rain or shine,” said Eamon Shelton, Boston’s Commissioner of Property Management. “We’ll keep an eye on the weather, if we have to make an adjustment we will, but right now it’s rain or shine.”

Next door to Fenway’s MGM Music Hall, where the royal pair will help present the 2022 Earthshot prizes, drinks are being raised, and made, in their honor.

Lorretta’s Last Call has crafted a pair of cocktails, called the William and Kate, in honor of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

“It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we’re really excited,” said dining room manager Megan Laffey.

Laffey says it’ll be all hands on deck, with the anticipation that the crowds will be packing in, to get a glimpse of their Royal Highnesses.

“I would suggest getting here as early as possible.. I would imagine the street is going to fill up very fast,” Laffey said.

On Thursday, William and Catherine will visit Greentown Labs in Somerville.

It’s a climate tech start-up incubator.

The event will not be open to the public, but it’s likely people will try to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple.

“We are so excited,” said Julia Travaglini, senior Vice President of Marketing for Greentown Labs. “This is arguably the biggest event we’ve ever hosted, though it is a private event. But it’s such an honor to host the Prince and Princess of Wales while they are here in Boston.”

The visit of the Prince and Princess to Boston is the first by a member of the British monarchy since Queen Elizabeth the Second in the bicentennial year of 1976.

And even though there’s tough weather in the forecast, it’s expected the Royals will be a strong draw at Boston City Hall.

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