Prince William: The Duke is preparing to be King

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Prince William honoured conservation heroes during the Tusk Conservation Awards held on Monday evening at BFI Southbank. The Duke of Cambridge resumed the key event face-to-face this year after Tusk Trust, the charity of which he is the patron, was forced to hold the 2020 awards remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the event, launched in 2013 to celebrate the achievements of those who lead conservation efforts in Africa, William presented each winner with their awards.

He then delivered a poignant speech, in which he hailed the conservation heroes and acknowledged the impact COVID-19 has had on the planet.

He said: “Earlier this evening I spent time chatting to the award winners and finalists.

“Their courage, determination and commitment to African conservation is deeply humbling.”

He added: “As ever, it’s been fantastic to see their outstanding work on the big screen.

“These wonderful films really bring their powerful and inspiring stories to life.”

Prince William then spoke about the forced break from the in-person event taken last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the safety measures in place.

He said: “In that time, the world has been turned upside down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Africa has been hard hit, as economies, jobs and livelihoods have been devastated by lockdowns and travel restrictions.

“Many of the Tusk projects I have been lucky enough to visit have been hugely impacted, particularly where there is a dependence on tourism to underpin their conservation work.

“The work that Tusk does has never been more important.”

Following his speech, William attended a reception with key members and supporters of Tusk Trust.

This trust has had a long relationship with Prince William, who became its patron in 2005, shortly after he left St Andrews University.

Over the past decades, he has worked to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding wildlife and biodiversity.

Tusk Trust CEO and longtime friend of Prince William Charlie Mayhew spoke about the royal’s dedication to the planet last month.

He said: “He’s not the sort of person to shy away from having difficult conversations. He doesn’t pull his punches.”

This came as Prince William took part last month in the first-ever Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony.

The Duke launched Earthshot in October 2020, with the aim to bring hope and inspiration to the fight to save the planet.

This initiative will see a panel of judges, including naturalist Sir David Attenborough, awarding five £1million awards every year for a decade to those presenting workable solutions to Earth’s most pressing environmental issues.

The Duke spoke passionately about the need to take action to stave off the effects of climate change also earlier this month, when he attended events during the COP26 climate change summit.

Travelling to Glasgow by train, William spoke to world leaders during an evening reception and was praised by his grandmother the Queen in her video message for his commitment to the environment.

Moreover, William focused his attention on the 15 winners and finalists of the first year of the Earthshot Prize, introducing them to the world and helping them connect with business leaders.

Prince William’s commitment to conservation and the environment is also been exemplified by other patronages of the Duke.

Last year, he took on from the late Duke of Edinburgh the patronage of the British Trust for Ornithology.

Moreover, he became patron of the Fauna & Flora International, a role previously held by the Queen.

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