By Natasha Livingstone, Royal Correspondent
12:06 28 Jun 2024, updated 12:10 28 Jun 2024
This week Prince William has proven he can use diplomatic ties for the greater good- and not just at the Japan state visit.
Attending events related to London Climate Action week yesterday, the Prince of Wales carefully selected a smart green tie made from recycled plastic bottles.
It’s a trick he no doubt learned from his father, King Charles, who is well-versed in the soft power of neckwear.
The King’s favourite pink dinosaur tie is a coded reference to his new title of Charles III Rex (C-Rex) and he often wears a tie with Greek flags as a nod to his late father, Prince Philip.
It’s a sweet similarity, particularly for a father and son who have not always had the easiest relationship.
Royal biographers have written that as a teenager William could be prone to angry outbursts, often directed at Charles, who was often on the receiving end.
And since Prince William became the Prince of Wales, many have observed how he carries the role differently to his father.
In his work, the Prince is more focused on ‘community impact days’ than the traditional fodder of ribbon-cutting.
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In his personal life, he is equally non-traditional.
Recently released family photos from Kensington Palace showed William to be a relaxed and surprisingly ordinary father, jumping off sand dunes with his kids and unashamedly dad-dancing in public.
In many ways William really is a modern Prince with different methods. But not in all ways.
This week Prince William attended London’s Climate Action Week for the first time, with a day full of engagements he no doubt knew would struggle to get print space alongside the Japan state visit and, most importantly, the election.
But I watched on Thursday afternoon as Prince William listened attentively to eco-entrepreneurs explain the intricate details of their businesses.
He then gave an energising speech celebrating the climate innovators, adding that they gave him hope for the future.
Palace aides stressed that Prince William’s focus for the summit was helping eco-entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, something his Earthshot Prize also hopes to achieve.
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It’s clear that the Prince of Wales is a man on a mission when it comes to the environment.
Sound familiar?
Just this week, a climate design award co- founded by King Charles announced its own unique finalists: a faeces recycler, sequins made out of fish scales and a roadkill prevention device.
The King, of course, was a climate change advocate long before it was fashionable.
He was just 21 years old when he made his first landmark speech on the subject in 1970, warning of the threats from plastic waste and chemicals dumped into rivers and seas.
Many at the time thought the ideas were ‘potty’ – but they are now mainstream.
Yet William has also followed this footprint.
In May Prince William used his ‘global convening power’ to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), speaking at a summit dedicated to the issue.
AMR – commonly described as superbugs – is a deadly health issue that kills an estimated 5 million a year. But it is largely unknown and misunderstood.
In his speech the Prince spoke powerfully about the ‘indiscriminate’ threat of AMR, warning: ‘Unless we act now and together, the ripple effects of drug resistance will be felt across generations, jeopardising the wellbeing of our children and our grandchildren.’
As Prince of Wales, William has greater freedoms than his father – constrained by the role of the monarch – now does and is using them to highlight the issues that matter to him the most.
In his core values – like his tie choices – William really is his father’s son.