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James Devaney/WireImageThis is what happens when British royalty and music royalty collide.
Prince William and Kate‘s royal visit to the U.S. brought an NBA Finals-like buzz to the Brooklyn Nets-Cleveland Cavaliers game Monday night.
And there was even a moment that captivated the entire Barclays Center when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met and exchanged pleasantries with music’s royal couple — Jay Z and Beyoncé — on the court before the start of the fourth quarter.
William and Kate had dinner on a suite level in a board room that included NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The royal couple’sarrival to their courtside seats across from the Nets’ bench created a stir in the middle of the third quarter.
“I saw when everyone stepped up and kind of turned and brought out their phones,” said Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, who was shooting free throws when the couple walked to their seats nearby. “I just tried to make the second shot [free throw], but it ended up being about a foot short.”
Shortly after the quarter ended, Nets and Barclays CEO Brett Yormark took Jay Z and Beyoncé from their courtside seats and walked them across the court to meet William and Kate. The couples initially planned to meet during halftime, but William and Kate’s dinner went longer than expected.
The highly-anticipated meet and greet was shown on the arena’s big screen and lasted pretty much the entire break before the fourth quarter, as cell phone camera flashes went off all around the arena. “God Save the Queen” was played, followed by “Crazy In Love.”
Not long after the game ended, LeBron James met with William and Kate and presented them with cupcakes and two Cavaliers jerseys — one with “GEORGE” on the back for Prince George, and another that had “CAMBRIDGE” on the back.
“I gave them a present and thanked them for coming here to America to watch our game,” James said. “For them to take time out of their schedules and to come out here to watch their first basketball game, it was an honor to be that guy they wanted to watch. So it was pretty cool.”
