Prince William, the 41-year-old Prince of Wales, is making the most of his visit to Singapore, with a busy schedule that includes a mix of exciting activities and diplomatic engagements. While the primary focus of his visit is to unveil the latest winners of the annual Earthshot Prize, Prince William recently took part in a thrilling dragon boat race on the Kallang River against the backdrop of Singapore’s iconic landmarks.
In the dragon boat race, Prince William joined a mixed-gender crew representing 14 nationalities, including 8 Commonwealth nations. They competed against a team led by Kara Owen, the British High Commissioner to Singapore. This traditional sport involves a crew of 22 members, with 20 paddlers facing the bow, a drummer at the front, and a steerer at the rear.
Following the race, Prince William enjoyed breakfast with the British team and met with high commissioners from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Papua New Guinea—nations that have his father, King Charles, as their head of state.
In addition to the sporting event, Prince William engaged in diplomatic meetings with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of Singapore, and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. These meetings provided an opportunity for Prince William to express gratitude to Singapore for hosting The Earthshot Prize and to discuss the long-term vision for Earthshot, highlighting its alignment with Singapore’s sustainability agenda.
Prince William expressed his excitement about returning to Singapore, a country he last visited with his wife, Kate Middleton, in 2012. He commended Singapore for its dedication to environmental innovation and its potential to set an example for others in the field of sustainability.
In addition to the dragon boat race and diplomatic engagements, Prince William’s visit also included a tour of the Jewel, a nature-themed complex housing the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the HSBC Rain Vortex. He interacted with well-wishers, posed for selfies, and even allowed an inquisitive 8-month-old baby to suck on his finger during a walkabout.
Prince William’s visit to Singapore underscores his commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability. It also highlights his efforts to strengthen international partnerships and collaborations in the critical field of sustainability.
