Prince William landed in Cape Town on Monday, and aside from eco-business, he’s winning hearts with a surprising fashion statement: a beaded “papa” bracelet from Princess Charlotte. Take that, crown jewels. William’s visit is part of a four-day eco-tour ahead of the Earthshot Prize Awards, the sustainability initiative he founded to spotlight solutions for saving the planet. The awards ceremony dazzles Cape Town tonight, but first, William’s doubling down on wildlife conservation.
In a speech with the magnificent (and windy) Table Mountain behind him, William highlighted wildlife rangers as unsung heroes of the environmental world. “Rangers are fundamental if we are to meet our global conservation targets for 2030,” he said, emphasising the need for better protection and benefits. “They’re educators, community supporters, and sustainable resource regulators.” Quite the royal rallying cry.
Backing his words with action, William announced a new life insurance scheme for 10,000 wildlife rangers, developed with United for Wildlife, the Game Rangers Association of Africa and the Tusk Trust. When your job involves armed poachers, a solid insurance plan is a must.
But, of course, no royal tour is all business. William hiked Signal Hill with none other than Robert Irwin, son of the late, great Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. The duo marvelled at the park’s biodiversity, sharing fun facts about their favourite animals: the cheetah for William and the humble chameleon for Irwin. Who knew wildlife could be a royal icebreaker?
William later met President Cyril Ramaphosa, sharing photo-op smiles and discussing his “rusty” rugby skills, honed during a training session with Springbok legends Percy Montgomery and Joel Stransky in Ocean View Township.
On the diplomatic front, there’s a bit of tension in the air. The Prince’s conservation tour comes just as UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is in town for some serious bilateral talks. While William’s team is promoting his “evolution into a global statesman,” South African officials are reportedly viewing his visit more as a celeb drop-in rather than a major diplomatic engagement.
All in all, the Prince’s Cape Town tour is a mix of environmental advocacy and the occasional diplomatic tightrope walk. Sure, there’s a bit of tension, but whether it’s taking on poachers, securing environmental futures, or just rocking a “papa” bracelet with style, William is here to make an impact.
