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Prince William explains why Africa has a ‘special place’ in his heart

Prince William explains why Africa has a ‘special place’ in his heart

  • Prince William shares why Africa has a ‘special place’ in his heart – from providing ‘comfort as a teenager’ to choosing the continent as the place to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010
  • A trip to Namibia in 2018 also inspired the Prince of Wales’ Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative he founded in 2020
  • Prince William heads to Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, November 4, for the fourth edition of his Earthshot Prize Awards

Prince William describes how Africa inspired him – including providing the setting to ask Kate Middleton to marry him.

As the Prince of Wales prepares to arrive in South Africa in support of his environmental initiative, the Earthshot Prizehe says: “Africa has always held a special place in my heart – as somewhere I found solace as a teenager, where I proposed to my wife and, most recently, as the founder of the Earthshot Prize.”

“It was in Namibia in 2018 that I realized the power of how innovative, positive solutions to environmental problems can bring about transformative change for people and nature,” he added in the November 2 statement.

The prince, 42, will travel solo to Cape Town on Monday, November 4, as Princess Kate continues her recovery from cancer. He asked Kate, 42, to marry him in Kenya in 2010where he takes his deceased mother with him Princess Diana‘s engagement ring with him to do this.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pose for photos at the State Apartments of St. James Palace on November 16, 2010 in London, England, after announcing their engagement.
Samir Hussein/WireImage

His statement came as final preparations were made in Cape Town for a week of events surrounding the star-studded Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 6.

“I am proud that since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has traveled to Europe, North America and Asia, highlighting and scaling 45 breakthrough solutions, all making a tangible impact as we as a global collective working to secure the future of our planet,” said William. “This week we travel to South Africa to spotlight our next cohort of fifteen finalists and have the opportunity to work with partners from across Africa to present the inspiring approach to environmental innovation across the continent takes place. .”

Prince William, Prince of Wales, takes part in a panel discussion at the Earthshot+ Summit at Park Royal Pickering in Singapore on November 8, 2023.

MOHD RASFAN/POOL/AFP via Getty


He is encouraged by the ideas emerging, both around the world and in Africa in particular.

“By the end of the week, I want the Earthshot Prize to have provided a platform for all those innovators driving change for their communities, encouraged potential investors to scale African solutions faster and inspired young people across Africa who are engaged with climate issues,” William added. “I firmly believe that if we come together with collective ambition and urgency, we can reshape the future of our planet.”

Organizers are particularly proud of the Earthshot Prize’s reach across Africa, which bears the brunt of the effects of climate change yet is the least polluting continent. The number of Africa-based nominations for the Earthshot Prize has doubled between 2023 and 2024, with more than 400 nominations from African-led solutions and a further 350 with operations and impact in Africa.

Prince William at last year’s Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Singapore on November 7, 2023.

Chris Jackson/Getty


As excitement builds for the fourth edition of the Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Awards, it was announced on November 1 that the show will kick off with a performance from the iconic Table Mountain. Lebo M. will unveil a pre-recorded version of “Circle of Life”. The Lion Kingthe first time such a performance has been recorded at the location above Cape Town.

The awards ceremony on November 6 will take place in the Earthshot Prize Dome, a purpose-built venue using a structure designed and developed in South Africa. The largest of its kind in Africa with a width of 36 meters, a height of 15.5 meters and a length of 144 meters. It has been used before and will be taken down and reused for other events in the country. The production of the show itself creates approximately 650 jobs locally, contributing significantly to Cape Town’s creative industry.

The Earthshot Prize Dome.

Kensington Palace


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The Earthshot Prize Awards will be broadcast in 50 countries in Africa on the MultiChoice network, in the UK on BBC iPlayer and around the world on YouTube.

Workers build the Earthshot Prize Dome.

Kensington Palace


While Earthshot week in South Africa kicks off on November 4, Table Mountain and other Cape Town landmarks will be lit green from that day until November 7 – something that has also been done in London, Boston and Singapore, the first three locations of the Earthshot Prize Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.