Prince William’s planned trip to New York City for the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit on September 21 has been canceled, People reports.
The gala, which will continue on in the prince’s absence, is scheduled to take place just two days after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday, September 19. According to the outlet, there will be another period of mourning for the seven days following the funeral.
The Prince of Wales was previously scheduled to address guests at the event, including last year’s Earthshot winners and this year’s finalists, alongside former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. (The gala is co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies.)
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Prince William and Kate Middleton are still expected to attend the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Boston in December, marking their first trip stateside in nearly eight years.
William’s trip is one of many postponements or cancellations that members of the royal family have announced in the wake of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, whose died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at age 96. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has canceled a red carpet appearance for Variety’s Women in Power issue gala. Her magazine cover as one of the trade’s honorees has also been postponed. There are also reports that Prince Harry’s memoir, which is expected to contain “bombshells” about the royal family, has been delayed until 2023.
