The future King is putting a renewed emphasis on protecting our oceans, as he flew out to Monaco yesterday to attend an environmental summit focused on ocean preservation. William has long been an eco-warrior, having launched his Earthshot Prize in 2020 with the aim of celebrating and supporting people and companies working to provide innovative solutions for climate and environmental issues. And this week, he turned his attention to restoring the health of the oceans.
Yesterday, he appeared in a special film with conservation icon Sir David Attenborough in his latest film, Oceans. The prince went to see a private screening of the film last month and recently said the naturalist is the “inspiration” behind his environmental work. Collaborations such as these are PR gold dust, as Kensington Palace are harnessing the star power of not one, but two eco-celebrities.
The partnership will help bolster the message that both Sir David and the prince are trying to make, that urgent action is needed to restore the health of the oceans. Rising sea temperatures, pollution, and overfishing are stressing the fragile ocean ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
So far just three percent of the ocean has been fully protected, a huge way off the 30 by 30 target – a campaign to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
William’s attendance at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) in Monaco will help shine a light on the pressing issues facing the ocean and highlight sustainable practices to help turn the tide.
The prince will deliver what aides have described as a “landmark speech” ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice. Aides have described his address as a “call to action” as he turns his attention to restoring the health of the world’s oceans.
William is expected to say: “Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance.”
Since joining the royal rota, I’ve seen some strange things, the King playing a carrot recorder, an alpaca sneeze on the monarch and the heir to the throne turning his hand to football punditry – but I never thought I’d see the Queen chat to ‘moss people’.
Yes, you read correctly, Camilla was introduced to two people dressed as shrubs when she visited Eden Dock in Canary Wharf, east London, on Wednesday.
When I first saw them walk towards me, I had quite the fright, but their Disney-cartoon-like mimes soon won me over.
The Queen also appeared highly amused by the characters, who were there to represent the sculptures at the site, which have been installed to increase biodiversity. They certainly livened up a grey and windy engagement!
After enjoying some downtime after their whirlwind 24-hour trip to Canada, the King and Queen threw themselves back into royal engagements.
Over two days, Their Majesties conducted six public engagements between them. While the bulk of the visits were in London, the Queen made the 600-mile round trip to Hexham on Thursday.
The Prince of Wales also returned to the fold after taking a break for half term, visiting the Army Air Corps (ACC) in Wattisham, Suffolk on Wednesday and then travelling to the South West coast to attend the Royal Cornwall Show alongside his aunt, the Duchess of Edinburgh at the end of the week.