Royals visit cost city $170,000
Overtime for police bulk of the bill
Call it a royalty check. Prince William’s and Princess Kate’s three-day visit to the Hub in November and December cost the city a total bill of $170,407.52, which largely went to police overtime, according to data from the city.
Their Nibs were in town to hold their Earthshot Prize event for environmental innovation; they also spent a few days schmoozing and drinking tea with local electeds, taking a remarkably long walk at a very cold seaside park and chatting with President Biden, who swung through Boston during one of the same days.
Of the total amount, $105,267.57 went to policing the whole Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 affair, according to data released Monday by the city in response to records requests. The description for that cop line is “see backup,” apparently referring to a further document that city Public Records Chief Shawn Williams’ office didn’t attach.
The other sizable line is $58,772.95 for the office of tourism, for “Staging, tents, flowers, lights, etc.” In addition to that, $5,000 went to property management for “Mostly Custodial and Security overtime,” and the rest was for EMS staffing.
The data notes that “staff time for exempt employees time” including salaried people from the mayor’s office, the city’s intergovernmental affairs office and the advance team are not included in this number.
The prince and princess of Wales stayed in the Four Seasons Hotel on Boylston Street and each day ventured out with a cavalcade of their attendants to see the sites around Boston.
The pair shared tea and cake with Mayor Michelle Wu, soon-to-be Gov. Maura Healey and City Council President Ed Flynn on the first evening before later catching a Celtics game, touring a lab in Somerville, a nonprofit in Chelsea, Piers Park in East Boston and the JFK Library. It was at that last spot where William, next in line for the throne of the United Kingdom, crossed paths with Biden.
The prize ceremony capped off the trip in the Fenway neighborhood, when an assortment muckety-mucks rubbed elbows on the “green carpet.”
They only received a handful of boos at the C’s game and just one shout of “free Ireland” at the prize ceremony.