Prince William’s Earthshot Awards are set to be held in South Africa this year, as Princess Kate’s attendance hangs in the balance.
The Princess of Wales was recently hospitalised for “planned abdominal surgery”, which has meant she is stepping back from royal duties until at least after Easter.
Although the Earthshot Prize Awards will not take place until November 2024, it is unknown whether Kate, 42, will be able to attend.
She did not attend last year’s awards show in Singapore as Prince George, 10, was preparing for his exams at the time.
Princess Kate and Prince William at the Earthshot Prize in 2022
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This year’s Earthshot Prize in Cape Town is set to continue the conversations and action on finding solutions to protect the planet.
The Earthshot Prize is an “ambitious global environmental prize which aims to discover and help scale the world’s most innovative climate and environmental solutions to protect and restore our planet”, according to their website.
Before Singapore, the awards were held in London in 2021 and Boston in 2022.
Kate attended both these events and dazzled on the green carpet wearing recycled or rented dresses to match the awards show’s ethos of sustainability.
Princess Kate wore a hired green dress during her appearance in Boston
PA
Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize said: “This is the Earthshot Decade, a decade in which we must, by 2030, reduce CO2 emissions by over 40 per cent, and protect 30 per cent of nature, oceans, and freshwater.
“The nominations to The Earthshot Prize remind us that human ingenuity, grit and determination can turn the seemingly impossible into the new normal.
“We’re delighted to be working with changemakers and partners across Africa to spotlight the incredible innovation emerging across the continent, to convene courageous conversations about scale and finance, and to partner with young creators and filmmakers to tell the story of changemakers across Africa.”
It is understood that South Africa was chosen as the location because the continent of Africa is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Princess Kate wore a recycled gown at the 2021 awards in London
PA
Prince William posing in Singapore during last year’s awards
PA
In 2022, more than 110million people across Africa were directly affected by weather, climate, and water-related hazards, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Imtiaz Patel, MultiChoice Group Chairman, said: “As the leading entertainment company in Africa, we are immensely proud to be the African Broadcast partner for Earthshot Prize at such a monumental time. This marks the first time the prestigious prize comes to our continent.
“MultiChoice is well positioned to not only amplify the urgent message of climate change but also to inspire and galvanize innovators, corporate partners, and governments to prioritize sustainable solutions.
“This partnership signifies our ongoing commitment to fostering a sustainable future for Africa, and we look forward to playing a pivotal role in advancing the goals of The Earthshot Prize.”
