Prince William Arrives In South Africa For Earthshot Prize And Wildlife Summit

Prince William arrived in Cape Town on Monday to kick off a four-day visit to South Africa focused on his Earthshot Prize, which supports environmental innovation. 

During his trip, the Prince of Wales is set to attend a global wildlife summit and meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The visit marks his first to the country since 2010.

The highlight of William’s trip will be the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony on Wednesday, where five winners will each receive £1 million (about $1.3 million) to advance their projects in tackling climate change and environmental issues. 

Launched in 2020, the Earthshot Prize draws inspiration from former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot” project, which led to the first lunar landing. Prince William’s vision for the prize is to spotlight innovators effecting change in their communities and to encourage investment in African-led solutions for climate action.

“By the end of the week, I want The Earthshot Prize to have provided a platform to all those innovators bringing about change for their communities, encouraged potential investors to speed African solutions to scale, and inspired young people across Africa who are engaged in climate issues,” William shared in a statement.

This trip comes as William travels solo; his wife, Princess Kate, is currently focusing on her health following a preventive course of chemotherapy for cancer. The visit also touches on historical tensions, as some South Africans have called for the return of diamonds found in South Africa and later set in the British crown jewels. 

South Africa, once a British colony, holds both complex historical ties and emerging opportunities for partnership with the UK, especially in the environmental arena through initiatives like the Earthshot Prize.

Melissa Enoch

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