New Delhi: Prince William made a surprise appearance on a special Earthshot Prize episode of The Graham Norton Show. The British royal joined Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham on the couch.
As Norton spoke to the three celebrities about the Earthshot Prize, he surprised the audience by inviting the royal to join them. The conversation touched on the need to balance optimism with urgency in the fight against climate change.
The prize was founded by William to “celebrate and scale the solutions that will repair our planet”.
They also spoke about Prince of Wales’ long-standing support for the football club Aston Villa and his love for Christopher Nolan.
“I love getting immersed in deep-thinking films. I like action films too, but I like something a bit different,” William said, before declaring himself “a big fan” of everything Nolan does.
William also revealed that he “went through a phase of wanting to be a DJ” even if he “wasn’t a very good one”.
A press release said that Prince William helped “judge the foolhardy audience members brave enough to sit in the world-famous Big Red Chair to tell their funniest stories”.
Also Read: Karan Johar, Prince William talk heat & rain ahead of Earthshot Prize
What is the Earthshot Prize?
The Earthshot Prize was launched by Prince William in 2020, drawing inspiration from former US President John F Kennedy’s Moonshot Project, which challenged scientists to land astronauts on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth.
The Earthshot Prize recognises solutions across five environmental goals: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate. Each winner receives £1 million.
William has committed to the initiative until 2030. This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony in Mumbai in November.
Filmmaker Karan Johar is set to host the event. Ahead of the ceremony, Johar met Prince William in London, where they discussed this year’s finalists, India’s environmental challenges and the impact of erratic rainfall on farmers and water supplies.
During the meeting, William spoke about India’s weather conditions and the prolonged lack of rainfall in parts of the country. He highlighted its impact on farmers and the growing pressure on water resources.
William, who has previously visited Mumbai, recalled the city’s “energy and vibrancy” and said he was looking forward to bringing the awards to India. He also pointed to India’s strong representation among Earthshot finalists and winners.
Last year’s ceremony in Rio de Janeiro attracted several high-profile guests, including former Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel and then UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Pop stars Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes performed at the event.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)