Prince William and Kate Middleton Praised For "From The Heart" Approach as They Meet Children at Climate Event

Prince William has made it clear that focusing on solutions to help heal our planet will be a cornerstone of his work across the next decade and beyond with the creation of the landmark Earthshot Prize. And today, he and Kate were praised for their “genuine” and “from the heart” approach to this work as they met with school children to brainstorm ideas to combat environmental challenges.

The royal couple visited Kew Gardens in west London alongside the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan as well as British Olympic rower Helen Glover and explorer and presenter Steve Backshall. There, they chatted with children from The Heathland School, in Hounslow, and encouraged them to be as creative as they wanted with their ideas—which included everything from superheroes lifting rubbish into space. “We thought outside the box a lot, we shared a lot of our ideas,” 12-year-old Kalina Wojcikiew said afterwards.

Kate at today’s event.

“They sat down with the kids and they listened to them and they worked with them for half an hour,” Steve Backshall said. “They didn’t come in here for a photo op, they came here to sit, talk to and listen to kids. It is from the heart, it’s real it’s genuine, and people get that and they connect to it. It’s very easy, particularly if you are someone in their kind of position, to just add your name as a tag to a big project then have nothing to do with it. But they’re not doing that, they are living it, they’re owning it, and I think people will respond to it.”

Helen Glover added that the couple spearheading the Earthshot Prize was “really important because it does give that, not only credibility, but there is a buzz and excitement.”

“We felt it when they walked in the room and the children all get excited because they think what we’re doing is so important,” she added. “And when a child feels important and feels elevated they know that they can make a change, they’re listened to. They’re not only listened to by the people around them, which is crucial, but they are listened to by people who are on that centre stage in our country. And I think that’s just so empowering.”

The couple’s appearance today took place ahead of the first Earthshot Prize Awards this Sunday, at which five winners will be announced, with each winner receiving £1 million to scale up their initiative or idea. The royals will join celebrities and climate activists walking the ‘green carpet’ ahead of the presentations at Alexandra Palace in north London.

“Education is such an important part of protecting our planet,” William said in a statement released by Kensington Palace after the event today. “We must inspire in the next generation the optimism, confidence and enthusiasm to chase those solutions and to continue building a more sustainable future. We know that young children already identify the climate as one of their biggest worries, and Generation Earthshot aims to educate and encourage them that together we can find the answers.”

London major Sadiq Khan said it was “inspirational” to see William “lead on this really important agenda.” “The wonderful thing about today was how the Duke and Duchess treated young people with the respect, letting them come up with the ideas,” he said. Alison Bellwood, Director of World’s Largest Lesson in collaboration with the Earthshot Prize, said, “Education for climate and the environment has to be part of the solution.”

Victoria Murphy

Contributing Editor

Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.