CAPE TOWN, South Africa — During the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Cape Town on Wednesday, Prince William donned white biodegradable sneakers while walking the “green carpet.” This event was the highlight of a four-day journey focused on environmental issues in South Africa by the British royal.
The Earthshot Prize, which Prince William initiated in 2020, aims to aid entrepreneurs in developing sustainable businesses. This year’s awards ceremony marked its first occurrence in Africa, the continent that inspired its creation. In his speech, delivered inside a large reusable dome set up near Cape Town’s harbor, he expressed a vision to make this decade transformative for the planet with positive solutions emerging from grassroots efforts.
The Earthshot Prize, facilitated through William’s Royal Foundation, distributed $1.2 million in grants to five enterprises recognized for their environmentally friendly innovations. Among the winners were an American firm that harnesses heat waste from heavy industries to produce electricity, a Ghanaian organization focused on waste management education, and a conservation group from Kazakhstan protecting extensive grasslands and the endangered Saiga antelope.
In his attire, featuring both the biodegradable sneakers and a classic double-breasted gray blazer, William emphasized that the Earthshot Prize was designed to “champion the dreamers, the thinkers, and the innovators from every walk of life,” all of whom aspire to create a sustainable future. The initiative has successfully raised around $110 million to back various projects worldwide.
The awards ceremony drew high-profile celebrity appearances, with Heidi Klum, Winnie Harlow, and rapper Tobe Nwigwe presenting awards, while actor-singer Billy Porter co-hosted the event.
William arrived in Cape Town on Monday, engaging throughout the week in discussions about climate change and conservation. His activities included meeting young environmental advocates involved in his Earthshot youth program, walking through nature near Table Mountain, attending a global wildlife summit, and visiting a botanical garden. His final day will see him at a sea rescue base and interacting with local fishermen.
Although William’s wife Kate, Princess of Wales, and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—did not join him on this trip, he wore a bracelet inscribed with “Papa,” a thoughtful gift from Charlotte. Kate has recently resumed public duties following treatment for a type of cancer, and prior to the awards, William informed the media of her good health, noting she has been “amazing” throughout the year.
William has deep connections to Africa, having visited the continent as a child after the tragic loss of his mother, Princess Diana. He and Kate chose a wildlife conservancy in Kenya for their engagement in 2010. This week, he met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and to honor the prince’s visit, Cape Town illuminated the iconic Table Mountain in green to celebrate the environmental significance of the awards.
“Africa has played a significant role in my life since childhood, and every visit allows me to be myself away from my usual life,” William reflected. “It feels like a special place, almost a second home to me.”