The Duke of Cambridge has stepped forward in recent months and launched a campaign to tackle the vast issue of climate change. As the Royal Family’s stable foundations have been shaken over the last year, due to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the frontline and Prince Andrew’s early retirement, William has provided a ray of hope by focusing on the global issue of environmentalism. He just released an ITV documentary called ‘Prince William — A Planet for Us All’, which was filmed over two years and recorded his investigation into how small efforts can alter the climate crisis.
The Duke also became the first member of the Royal Family to give a TED talk, and discussed his passion for environmentalism while launching a groundbreaking new award scheme — the Earthshot Prize.
The prize will award £1million to five innovators each year for the next decade, in an attempt to provide the public with a “bit of hope, a bit of positivity”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme last week: “I felt very much that there’s a lot of people wanting to do many good things for the environment and what they need is a bit of a catalyst, a bit of hope, a bit of positivity that we can actually fix what’s being presented.”
Royal commentator Robert Jobson noted that in his new documentary, “William not only puts himself centre stage in the climate-change debate but also underlines where the motivation for his involvement comes from”.
Writing in the Radio Times, Mr Jobson added that William’s “positive attitude radiates through the film”.
Film-maker Nick Kent told the outlet earlier this month: “Prince William is an optimist.
“He has always believed it’s possible to give young people hope and truly believes that things can get fixed.”
William’s new campaign has shown his intent to become a global leader on the issue and it’s clear he is building his own legacy, just as Prince Charles built the Prince’s Trust.
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“Because if he does that, we’re too late.”
Mr Jobson noted that William “seems a man in a hurry”.
He continued: “It’s his role as a champion of the natural world and his determination to use his fame and influence to be a bridge between the passionate young and sceptical old that drives him and may, in time, define him and his reign.”
This latest spat of positive publicity contrasts with the ongoing reports regarding William’s relationship with his brother, Prince Harry.
The once-close siblings are thought to have been clashing for years now, and on the day the Earthshot Prize was announced on December 31, last year, the Duke of Sussex appeared to take a sly dig at his brother.
Speaking in a leaked phone call, Harry — thinking he is speaking to environmentalist Greta Thunberg — claimed: “Small steps or giving out prizes doesn’t make any difference these days.
“I think what you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it’s that shock factor that wakes people up.”
Harry is a keen environmentalist, too, and set up the sustainable travel initiative, Travalyst last year.
