Prince William says the Princess of Wales is doing “very well” and that she and her children will be watching her Earthshot Prize environmental awards tonight.
The Prince of Wales paid tribute to his wife Kate on his trip to Cape Town, saying she had been “amazing” during her difficult year of cancer treatment.
‘She is very well, thank you. And…hopefully, she’ll be watching tonight. So encourage me. She has been amazing this whole year. “I know she will be very interested in making this night a success,” he said.
William spoke to the BBC and Sky News as he prepared to present his fourth annual Earthshot Awards, designed to highlight and amplify the planet’s best solutions to the current environmental crisis.
He said he and his family, like many, have conversations about trying to “do what they can” at home.
Prince William at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town this morning
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Center on October 10
Prince William with the Earthshot Prize finalists at Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden today
The purpose-built Earthshot Prize Dome is seen from Signal Hill in Cape Town this afternoon
The prince said: ‘Yes, well, you know, every family tries to do what they can to help the environment.
‘We go over all the basics of recycling and make sure we minimize water use and turn off the lights when we leave the house and things like that, and make sure it’s sensible in what we do with the environment.
‘I think all families have these conversations. Just try to do what you can. ‘
‘The Earthshot Prize has to be a little more global than that. We are trying to achieve large-scale ambitions and business to address some of the solutions.
“But I brought the kids along on that journey and tonight I hope they’re watching and they’re proud of what we’re trying to do here, which is really galvanize that energy and enthusiasm to make a real impact.”
William speaks to Earthshot Prize finalists at Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden today
The Prince of Wales holds a thermovoltaic device as he speaks to an Earthshot finalist today
Prince William walks with Earthshot CEO Hannah Jones in Cape Town today.
He also spoke about the friendship bracelet he has been seen wearing with the word ‘Dad’, made for him by his daughter, Princess Charlotte, and which he has ‘promised’ not to lose.
‘Well, this is… a relic, if you will, from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided she wanted to create a bracelet for. She gave it to me when I left. “So I promised to use it and try not to lose while I was here,” he said.
William conveyed his excitement while talking about Earthshot, which he brought to Africa for the first time this year.
Tonight, five winners from around the world will each receive £1 million in prizes to develop and scale up their solutions to environmental and climate change problems in a glittering ceremony that will be broadcast live across Africa and later on BBC iPlayer.
Prince William yesterday, wearing a ‘Dad’ friendship bracelet made by Princess Charlotte
Taylor Swift poses with the Prince of Wales and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, before one of her concerts at Wembley Stadium in London in June. The singer encourages her fans to exchange homemade bead bracelets with names or words on them.
He said: “I have been looking forward to the time when I can bring Earthshot to Africa. I love this continent. And I spent many years exploring it.
‘And I’m really excited to welcome the exuberance and energy that will be in this room tonight around Earthshot in South Africa.’
Asked how he could ensure his message gets across in a sometimes environmentally difficult political climate, he added: “I think everyone wants some hope and some optimism. I think Earthshot encompasses an urgent optimism. That’s why we are here.’
Africa is one of the least polluting continents in the world and yet suffers the most from the adverse effects of climate change.
The prince said: ‘And as I think you will see tonight, the number of young people from Africa who will be here. They will let you know and let everyone know that it is important to them.
And without them, the future looks pretty bleak. So these are the game changing factors. These are the innovators. These are the inventors who will make the world a better place for us in the future.’
Tonight’s awards will be held in a reusable eco-friendly ‘super dome’ with green carpets for guests including presenter Billy Porter and models Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow.
The winners were chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees in 75 countries.