He added: “As I was preparing for this afternoon, I looked through the long list of those who had been invited. Pa, I was again struck by the range and diversity of the work which you are involved with.
“It is your selfless drive to affect change, whether that is to improve the lives of those who are on the wrong path, to save an important piece of our national heritage or to protect a particular species under threat, which William and I draw inspiration from every day.”
He then asked for “forgiveness” during a tongue-in=cheek comment, adding: “So, Pa, while I know that you’ve asked that today not be about you, you must forgive me if I don’t listen to you – much like when I was younger – and instead, I ask everyone here to say a huge thank you to you, for your incredible work over nearly 50 years.”
The Duke went on to hail Charles and spoke about how he “inspired” him.
He said: “His enthusiasm and energy are truly infectious; it has certainly inspired William and I to get involved in issues we care passionately about and to do whatever we can to make a difference.
“In fact, many of the issues William and I now work on are subjects we were introduced to by our father growing up.
“His passion and dedication are remarkable and seeing so many of you here today, I cannot fail but to be in awe of the drive he has had for so many years, to contribute to the enrichment of society both in this country and around the world.”
Prince William and Prince Harry are currently not “on speaking terms” and did not even meet during the duke’s recent dash to the UK, following King Charles’s cancer diagnosis.
