Lowell Sun September 4, 1986

Much of Massachusetts went gaga (not the Lady kind) the past several days as the future King of England, Prince William, paid a visit to Massachusetts, including taking in a basketball game at Boston Garden. This particular Celtics fan wasn’t particularly impressed, as I’m more interested in Jason Tatum’s coronation as King of the NBA than in a visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

This morning I was reminded about the buzz created when another future King visited the Mill City in September of 1986. Prince Charles, the man who became King upon the recent passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, toured Wang Laboratories Headquarters on Industrial Avenue. He also paid a visit to the Market Mills in Downtown, where the Visitors Center for the Lowell National Historical Park is located.

The memory came courtesy of a photo sent by former Lowell City Councilor George Ramirez. The snapshot in time depicts Prince Charles receiving a gift from Lowell Mayor Bobby Kennedy. The man in the background wearing glasses and watching the scene unfold is Fred Faust, former aide to Senator Paul Tsongas. The person blocked from camera view by Mayor Kennedy is George Duncan.

Faust recalls the photo was taken in London, when a delegation from Lowell visited in 1987 to follow up on the Prince’s visit to the Mill City. Mayor Kennedy had called on the services of many clerks at Harrod’s, the famed London Luxury Department Store, to find a gift fit for a future king. Faust also recalls the Prince’s security was none-too happy with someone presenting a gift to Charles in such an informal manner. What became of the gift, we may never know, but Prince Charles did graciously receive it from Lowell’s Mayor.

Back to that September ’86 day in Lowell and a recollection of mine. I happened to be working at my family’s restaurant right across the street from the Market Mills and remember the massive crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of the man who would be King. Secret Service and British Security Forces were swarming the area, a few of them stationed on the roof of our 4-story Putnam Building.

The happening turned comical for the cooks and I in the kitchen as customers and staff rushed outside when word spread the Prince had finally arrived. One excited young server came back in a minute or two later, her cheeks now red and flushed, exclaiming “I saw him, I saw him!”

Needless to say, I was as impressed then as I was two nights ago with the Boston Garden appearance of Charles’ son William. For the 20-year old version of me, a glimpse of Princess Diana would have been far more reason to get excited.

Still, I understand why a visit to our city by someone as famous as Charles stirred such excitement for so many. These once-in-a-lifetime opportunities are the kind of stories we love to share within our generations and future generations whenever something of note or something similar occurs. They’re also the kind of stories we like to share here at InsideLowell.

So yes, the now 57-year old version of me has to admit, the day the future King visited Lowell was indeed a big deal. Thanks for the reminder, George!