BOSTON ― Prince William and Kate Middleton are visiting the U.S. for the first time in eight years, and it’s clear that one sporting event from their 2014 tour of America stayed with them.
Just a few hours after landing in Boston on Wednesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales headed to an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat at TD Garden.
The two sat courtside with former Harvard basketball player and Massachusetts Gov.-elect Maura Healey ― who also played professionally ― and visited with members of the Celtics family and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.
BRIAN SNYDER via Getty Images
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 2 The Prince and Princess of Wales with high-profile courtside fans at the game, which took place at Boston's TD Garden.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387ffb52400006000b63906.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
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The royals also attended an NBA game in 2014, when they saw the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York. Kate and William sat with NBA star Dikembe Mutombo during the game and later spoke with LeBron James after the game.
The two were presented with a “Cambridge” jersey by James and a smaller jersey that said “George” for their first son.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 3 The then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with basketball player LeBron James backstage after the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Brooklyn Nets game on Dec. 8, 2014, in New York City.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387e3e32200003000a2be95.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
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![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 4 The two sitting courtside in 2014.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387e51b2400006000b638f8.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
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Prior to the game, the prince and princess headed to Boston City Hall to kick off the countdown to the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony on Friday.
The crowd cheered when the couple emerged, with Will in a navy suit and Kate in a Burberry dress, Alexander McQueen coat and earrings by Shyla London, a sustainable-jewelry designer.
Fans looking to catch a glimpse of the royal couple waited for hours in a steady rain, and William delivered a speech after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Boston’s chief of environment, energy and open space, also spoke.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 5 The Prince and Princess of Wales with Massachusetts Gov.-elect Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (right) as they kick off Earthshot celebrations Wednesday by lighting up Boston at Speaker’s Corner by City Hall.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387f6342400003300b63900.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 6 Boston Mayor Michell Wu (right), her sons Blaise and Cass, and husband Conor Perwarski chat with William and Kate on Wednesday in her office at Boston City Hall.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387fc502700003300d47ae9.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
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“Thank you to Mayor Wu, and thank you to all the hardy Bostonians braving the rain,” William said in his opening remarks.
“Catherine and I are absolutely delighted to be with you today for our first engagement in the great city of Boston as we start the countdown to the Earthshot Prize Awards this Friday.”
To see more photos of the royal couple’s visit, check out the slideshow below:
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The Prince And Princess Of Wales Visit Boston – Day 1
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, kick off Earthshot celebrations by lighting up Boston at Speaker’s Corner by City Hall on Wednesday.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 8 6387b3a02200005a00a2be61](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387b3a02200005a00a2be61.jpeg?ops=scalefit_960_noupscale)
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Logan International Airport on Wednesday in Boston.
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Chris Jackson via Getty Images
Prince William and Kate Middleton arriving at Boston’s Logan airport.
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JOSEPH PREZIOSO via Getty Images
Royal watchers await the arrival of William and Kate at City Hall Plaza in Boston.
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Chris Jackson via Getty Images
Prince William and Kate Middleton were greeted at the airport by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and his wife, Lauren Baker.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 12 6387d31d2700005800d47ada](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387d31d2700005800d47ada.jpeg?ops=scalefit_960_noupscale)
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
A fan holds a sign as she waits for the Prince and Princess of Wales to kick off Earthshot celebrations at Speaker’s Corner by City Hall.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 13 6387e1452200003000a2be93](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387e1452200003000a2be93.jpeg?ops=scalefit_960_noupscale)
Pool via Getty Images
Kate Middleton and Prince William meet with Mayor Michelle Wu and her family at Boston’s City Hall.
![Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Clearly Fans Of This U.S. Pastime 7 6387e19b2200005b00a2be94](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6387e19b2200005b00a2be94.jpeg?ops=scalefit_960_noupscale)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales launch Earthshot celebrations by lighting up Boston.
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Winslow Townson via Getty Images
The couple were seated courtside at a Boston Celtics game just a few hours after landing in the city.