Prince William is sounding the alarm for the planet — and his motivation is close to home. The Prince of Wales says he worries that his three children may not enjoy the same experiences he had growing up unless urgent action is taken to protect the environment.
William, 43, who shares Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, with Princess Kate, spoke to HELLO! ahead of this week’s Earthshot Prize ceremony. The global environmental prize, launched by William in 2020, aims to inspire and fund innovative solutions to the world’s most critical ecological challenges.
“As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit,” he said in the magazine’s November 4 issue. “I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity, and a sense of hope about the future. But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk.”
This year’s Earthshot Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 5, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking William’s first official visit to South America. The event is expected to spotlight groundbreaking climate solutions from around the world — a mission William calls his fuel for optimism.
“Urgent optimism is the heartbeat of The Earthshot Prize,” he explained. “The challenges we face are immense, but the solutions are within reach, and we must act with speed and conviction to bring them to life. Rio, with its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, feels like the perfect place to celebrate the power of environmental innovation.”
HELLO!’s editor, Jessica Callan, said the publication is proud to support the royal mission — even turning its logo green for the first time in honor of the Earthshot issue.
“The future King’s determination to change the world is incredibly inspiring, and we are honoured that he has spoken to HELLO!” Callan said.
The interview comes just weeks after William appeared on the Apple TV+ travel series The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, where he spoke candidly about family life, including the cancer diagnoses of both Princess Kate and King Charles. The prince also discussed preparing Prince George for his future role.
“I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do,” William said during the October 3 episode. “A world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.”
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