Prince William is doubling down on his environmental mission as he prepares for the 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony, set to take place in Rio de Janeiro on November 5th.
“Together, we can tackle the planet’s greatest challenges,” the Prince of Wales said recently, ahead of what’s shaping up to be one of the most high-profile sustainability events of the year.
The Earthshot Prize — founded by Prince William in 2020 — celebrates groundbreaking innovations and solutions designed to protect and restore the planet. This year’s ceremony will once again blend royalty, global leadership, and star power in a celebration of climate ambition.
Among the VIP attendees is UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who will join a distinguished panel of judges and international figures, including:
- Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian supermodel and environmental activist
- Queen Rania of Jordan
- Cate Blanchett, Oscar-winning actress and humanitarian
- Sir David Attenborough, renowned natural historian
Starmer’s attendance underscores the UK’s renewed commitment to global climate leadership. After the Earthshot event, he will travel to Belem for the COP30 global climate summit, near the mouth of the Amazon River — a region symbolic of both environmental crisis and opportunity.
A spokesperson for Downing Street emphasized that the Prime Minister’s participation is more than symbolic, calling net zero “the economic opportunity of the 21st century” and highlighting its potential to create sustainable jobs and drive green growth.
However, the move comes amid recent controversy. Earlier this month, reports suggested that Starmer might skip the COP30 summit entirely — sparking criticism from the Liberal Democrats, who accused him of hypocrisy after he previously criticized Rishi Sunak for skipping COP27 in 2022.
Now, with his confirmed presence at both major events, Starmer aims to demonstrate Britain’s determination to reclaim its global environmental leadership — alongside Prince William, whose Earthshot initiative continues to inspire hope for a more sustainable world.
As the countdown to the Rio ceremony begins, all eyes are on the royal and political leaders uniting under one mission: to protect the planet for future generations.
