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Prince William publicly thanked people supporting his beloved conservation charity Tusk Trust and its latest initiative, the Tusk Virtual Lewa Safari Marathon Challenge. The Duke of Cambridge revealed he was also joining the virtual marathon, which aims at raising funds to the help rangers protecting the wildlife in Lewa, Kenya. But, while expressing his sadness for not being able to be visiting the African continent because of the coronavirus pandemic, he also spoke about being “relieved”. 

He said: “I am also about to do a run myself as part of this challenge.

“Like many of you, I am very sad not to be able to do this in Lewa’s beautiful surroundings — but also rather relieved to have been spared the altitude and the heat.

“This is not a race, there is no stopwatch.

“It is our way of showing Africa’s conservation community that we are all in this together.”  

Prince William, who appeared to have a light tan and was wearing a casual white polo in the video shared on the charity’s Twitter page, became the patron of this charity in 2005 and has since regularly taken part in its events and initiative.

The video appears to have been filmed on the same spot where, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge filmed their three children clapping in support of the NHS frontline staff and carers.

In the minute-long clip, Prince William also thanked two world-record holders for showing their support to Lewa’s rangers. 

William said: “I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to a true sporting great, Kenyan marathon world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge and his friend Geoffrey Kamworor, the world-record holder for the half-distance marathon.

“They have provided extraordinary support in training alongside Lewa’s rangers and have kindly agreed to run today as part of this challenge.”

While Prince William showed his appreciation for the support to Tusk from his home in Norfolk, a unit of rangers, armed guards, and staff set out on the original Lewa Marathon track. 

Head of Anti-Poaching Edward Ndiritu said in a statement published on the Tusk website: “We [may] not all be running together.

“[But] wherever you are, we want to achieve the same objective.”

The Duke of Cambridge’s video was welcomed by royal fans on Twitter.

Social media user Donna-Lynne wrote: “Fine example of what a future King should be and what a working prince should do.   

“Diana would have been so proud of William.

“England will be in good hands with Wills on the throne.”

Twitter user Samantha said she is enjoying the videos recorded at the Cambridges’ home over the past few months of lockdown, saying: “Thank you Prince William!!!

“Wonderful message & cause. I really love your (&Catherine’s) videos & home you continue a bit once COVID is gone/controlled.

“The amazing wildlife of the African continent can’t be allowed to be lost. Tnx again!”

And Liana added: “You are all amazing, thank you for everything you do! Congratulations!” 

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, relocated to Anmer Hall shortly after the Government closed school across the country in late March.

The Cambridges, as the Duke himself has revealed during his first face-to-face appearance since the beginning of the pandemic, have taken advantage of the lockdown to cook more together.

As he visited ambulance workers in Norfolk earlier this month, Prince William joked: “I’m worried about the waistline of the nation as well with all the chocolate and cakes.

“I’ve done a lot of baking at home.  

“Chocolate goes down very well.”   

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