Prince William issues urgent statement on environment after brushing off Princess Kate’s Photoshop drama
PRINCE William issued an urgent statement on the environment today after brushing off Princess Kate’s Photoshop drama.
The Prince of Wales, 41, appeared at a launch event in London for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental competition that he founded in 2020.
At the inauguration of Launchpad – an online matchmaking platform designed to connect innovators with investors and philanthropists – he said setting our planet on a healthier path was “urgent”.
In his passionate speech, the Prince told the audience the effects of climate change mean “we are in the critical decade now”.
William said through the platform “can now catalyse funding on an even greater scale”.
Launchpad is intended to accelerate the scaling and deployment of the innovation encouraged by the Earthshot prizes.
He said: “When I first started thinking about how I might contribute to the collective global effort to protect our planet in 2018, I knew that I wanted to mobilise the enormous power of innovators, wherever they are in the world.
It comes as…
- Princess Kate apologises for “confusion” caused by inconsistencies in family image
- Piers Morgan calls for the Palace to share the unedited photo to quell internet sleuths
- Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith gives his verdict on Mother’s Day picture as he speaks out after CBB eviction
- Photo agencies release ‘kill notice‘ on Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day picture
- Twitter’s warning over Princess Kate photo inconsistencies
- King Charles releases video message saying he’ll ‘continue to serve you, to the best of my ability’ amid cancer battle
- Princess Kate is pictured with Prince William leaving Windsor Castle this afternoon in a black Land Rover
- Prince William brushes off Kate’s Photoshop drama as he arrives for Commonwealth Day celebration without his wife
“From businesses, cities and governments; to activists, scientists and innovators, the ideas and ambition to set our planet on a healthier path do already exist.
“But this is urgent. We are in the critical decade now.
“And that is why, to have real impact, we must focus on supporting and developing as many solutions as possible and scale them at speed.
“It is not an easy task. We must overcome the challenge of getting capital to the right sectors, solutions, and geographies.”
Following his short speech, William then introduced Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
It comes after Prince William was all smiles at the Commonwealth Day service as he made his first public appearance since his wife admitted to “editing” their Mother’s Day picture.
The event celebrating the family of nations is a major fixture in the royal year but has been overshadowed by the Princess of Wales’ statement she manipulated a family photo released on Sunday.
The prince, who was spotted with Kate in his car while in London, arrived at Westminster Abbey alone before the Queen.
He was greeted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle, shaking his hands with the senior cleric.
Prince William's full Launchpad event speech
Thank you for joining us at this wonderful venue as we celebrate a landmark moment for The Earthshot Prize – the development of Launchpad.
When I first started thinking about how I might contribute to the collective global effort to protect our planet in 2018, I knew that I wanted to mobilise the enormous power of innovators, wherever they are in the world.
From businesses, cities and governments; to activists, scientists and innovators, the ideas and ambition to set our planet on a healthier path do already exist.
But this is urgent. We are in the critical decade now.
And that is why, to have real impact, we must focus on supporting and developing as many solutions as possible and scale them at speed.
It is not an easy task. We must overcome the challenge of getting capital to the right sectors, solutions, and geographies.
Since 2021, The Earthshot Prize has awarded £15million of prize money and sourced £50million of further support for our 45 winners and finalists.
And since becoming Earthshot Prize Finalists, our cohorts have directly improved the lives of almost 4.4 million people and protected or restored almost 22,000 square kilometres of land and ocean.
But we want to do more.
That is why I’m delighted that through Launchpad, we can now catalyse funding on an even greater scale. We will now be able to connect our innovators right across the world with a huge network of investors and philanthropists.
Launchpad has already gained significant traction. 25 innovative solutions with funding needs exceeding $500million are currently spotlighted by Launchpad and 135 institutional investors are already signed up as members.
And thanks to Launchpad, even in these very early days, Earthshot Prize Winner Notpla has secured £3.5million in funding towards their £10 million funding round. I was delighted to spend time with Pierre, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Notpla last Friday, as they also announced a new multimillion pound contract that will remove 75 million single use plastic
containers from over 50 arenas across the UK and Europe in the next 3 years.
As Launchpad grows, we will continue to bring best-in-class innovations, sourced through our powerful search engine which identifies solutions around the world.
But what we need now is the capital.
We need you – investors and philanthropists – to join us in our mission. Join our community and invite your peers to be a part of this journey. Together, we can support our innovators to scale their solutions.
It is only through collective action that we will reach the ambitious 2030 targets we have set to save our planet. It is only through action that we will create a sustainable future for generations to come.
I would like to thank you all again for being here this evening; for taking the first step in joining us on this crucial journey.
I would also like to take a moment to extend my gratitude to the Earthshot Prize team. Your hard work, your dedication, and your relentless support of game changing innovation inspires us all.
And on that note, it is my pleasure to introduce you to one of our Earthshot Prize Trustees, Jacinda Ardern.
William was introduced to the Abbey’s Chapter, or governing body, shaking their hands as he made his way along the line of clergy.
Missing was the King, who continues to receive treatment for cancer, but in his annual address to the family of nations, he pledged to continue to serve the Commonwealth “to the best of my ability”.
Since his cancer diagnosis was announced on February 5, Charles has postponed all public-facing duties.
But he is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers and holding some in-person meetings.
His address highlighted how “diversity” was the Commonwealth’s core “strength”.
He also said the union of 56 member countries was a “precious source of strength, inspiration, and pride” to him.
Charles said in the video message: “In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth”
Camilla and William were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
The royals warmly greeted each other before they lined up for the procession to their seats.
The prince gave Edward a friendly pat on the arm and a kiss on both cheeks, before standing in conversation with his aunts Anne and Sophie and uncle.
As Camilla, dressed in a turquoise coat and hat, approached, William was seen to say “hello” to his stepmother before moving forward to kiss her on both cheeks.
They smiled and chatted for a few moments as they stood side by side at the head of the royal party.
Camilla looked back, as if to check the other members of the monarchy were in place and when the national anthem began, all the royals sang.
The annual celebration will draw on the theme of resilience at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles.
Among the 2,000 guests were Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, the president of Malta, foreign ministers, high commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth and faith leaders as well as schoolchildren and young people from throughout the UK.
The service, which marked the 75th anniversary of the family of nations, featured performers from across the Commonwealth including a dance troupe from Uganda that tickled the royals.
The front row of Camilla, William, Edward, Sophie and Anne smiled then laughed as the youngsters, who featured on Britain’s Got Talent, twirled and jumped.
Protesters from the Republic campaign group had earlier gathered outside, near the abbey.
The demonstrators carried bright yellow placards bearing the slogan “Down with the Crown”.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: “The royals need to stop using the Commonwealth as a vehicle for their own PR.
“The platitudes we hear from Charles and Camilla only serve to paper over serious concerns about human rights abuses and a lack of democracy in many Commonwealth countries.”
He added: “The royal family funded, promoted and defended slavery for centuries, and then presided over an empire that caused untold damage to people’s lives that continues to have an impact to this day.
“Reparations are a reasonable demand. As a hereditary monarch, Charles can hardly argue that what his ancestors did has nothing to do with him.”
Why were 'kill notices' issued?
News agencies ordered a “kill notice” on the picture late Sunday night.
The removal orders were sent after “manipulation” on the image was discovered.
AP’s order said the reason for killing the story was: “At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image.”
The order then directs those who have used the photo to remove it from all platforms, including social.
Agence France-Press ordered the “mandatory kill” due to an “editorial issue” and directed that the image may no longer be used.
Reuters said the photo “has been withdrawn following a post publication review.”
Getty Images said: “For editorial reasons, please remove the following image(s) from your system and do not use in any manner.”
Getty said its picture desk “identified a problematic image” provided by the palace and removed it from its site “in accordance with our editorial policy.”
PA said: “Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday.
“We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace.
“In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.”
Each of the news agencies have their own editorial guidelines which govern how they treat images.
AP says that pictures “must always tell the truth” and that it does not alter or manipulate the content of a photograph in any way.
Its guidelines say: “The content of a photograph must not be altered in PhotoShop or by any other means. No element should be digitally added to or subtracted from any photograph.”
However, AP says minor adjustments are allowed, they include cropping, colour adjustments, and light adjustments.