Prince William and Robert Irwin Join Forces in Cape Town for Earthshot Prize

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Williamtook an early morning stroll beneath South Africa’s iconic Table Mountain on Tuesday, Nov. 5, setting the stage for his Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town.

In the stunning park that forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site, William engaged with rangers, conservationists, firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers, biodiversity experts and youth advocates. This unique area, known for its rare and endangered plant species, is essential for global biodiversity. William spoke with the local experts about the critical work they do to protect the region’s rich flora and fauna, balancing preservation with accessibility for residents and visitors alike.

Prince William and Robert Irwin on their walk at Signall Hill, near Cape Town, South Africa on Nov. 5.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

The walk and conversations underscored William’s commitment to environmental stewardship just before the Earthshot Prize awards on Nov. 6, where he’ll honor groundbreaking efforts to heal the planet.

At the top of the walk, a viewpoint over the suburbs of Cape Town and the South Atlantic ocean below, the Prince was then taken to meet a group of youngsters from the Mayine Afrika E Foundation which promotes mental and physical wellbeing in their community of Nyanga.

Prince William and Robert Irwin on their walk at Signal Hill, near Cape Town, on Nov. 5, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Founder Bathandwa ‘Just B’ Diniso told him how they use outings to the Mountain and parks to encourage appreciation of nature and caring for it. She tells PEOPLE, “He was so chilled! He’s a cool guy. There was no need for [the children] to panic. I wasn’t! That’s because I could see with the way he interacts with the people.”

She adds, “He was asking us what we do and what the vision is. Our vision is to raise children who are going to wake up on a daily basis inspired, motivated and eager to learn. We introduce the children to the parks and nature. Once they understand nature they can take care of it.”

Prince William talks Australian conservationist and Earthshot Prize Global Ambassador Robert Irwin and Mayor of the City of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis at Signal Hill, South Africa, on Nov. 5.GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL/AFP via Getty

GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL/AFP via Getty

“The mountain, the parks, nature are helping. He said he loves it and he wanted to find out from the children could they work, do they see opportunities and would they be able to volunteer and what do they think of conversation. They said we need to take care of this.”

“Both days what struck me is how genuinely interested and engaging he is. I obviously meet a lot of foreign dignitaries, but he strikes me as one that’s genuinely interested in the issues that he’s working while he’s here and very, very engaging,” he added. “It is clearly from the heart, and I was very impressed.”

The mayor added that having the prince visit was a boost to the area.

“It’s really wonderful and valuable for Cape Town to have the eyes of the world drawn to our fair city because of the Earthshot Prize, and we’re really grateful to the prince and the palace for choosing Cape Town this year,” he said.

Prince William meeting the young people from Mayine E Afrika at Signal Hill, South Africa on Nov. 5.Chris Jackson/Getty

Last year, Irwin called William “areal beacon to everyonein the conservation field.”

“It’s hard to put into words just how massive Earthshot is for wildlife conservation, for climate action, for the world. For Prince William, who has such a great platform, to lend his voice, his resources into creating positive change is such a refreshing, wonderful thing to see. I applaud what he is doing,” he tells PEOPLE.

For his second outing on Nov. 5, Prince William met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the president’s official residence in Cape Town. The visit highlighted an important facet of William’s role on this mini-tour: his soft-power diplomacy, an extension of the work that he, his fatherKing Charles, and other senior royals undertake on behalf of the U.K. government.

William’s spokesman noted that similar high-level meetings, like his meeting with President Biden during the Earthshot Prize event inBoston in December 2022and his meeting with Singapore’s president last year, have become a “golden thread” in his Earthshot visits.

Prince William with Park Manager for Table Mountain National Park Megan Taplin (L) and other rangers at Signal Hill in Cape Town on Nov. 5, 2024.GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL/AFP via Getty

Antony Phillipson, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, emphasized that William’s visit represents “the highest level of engagement” between the two nations and “connects the narrative” from King Charles' first state visit as monarch two years ago.

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Also attending the meeting were U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and South African Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola, underscoring what Phillipson described as a “really important” bilateral relationship.

source: people.com