Prince William Appears in New Video Announcing Collaboration with Popular Children’s TV Show
‘We want to find the next generation of young inventors who can make a change,’ the father of three said of his Earthshot Prize teaming up with 'Blue Peter'
Prince William is joining forces with the longest-running children’s television show in the world.
The Prince of Wales, 42, took to social media on Sept. 6 to reveal a new collaboration with British children’s television show Blue Peter, where the show will work with the royal’s Earthshot Prize competition to find the next generation of young inventors, problem solvers and changemakers.
“I started The Earthshot Prize to search for solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges, and we want to find the next generation of young inventors who can make a change,” Prince William said in the clip.
Children from ages 5 to 15 can submit an original idea to address one of the five Earthshot challenges — Fix Our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans and Build a Waste Free World.
“I can’t wait to see what ideas you come up with,” Prince William added.
Aspiring environmentalists are asked to describe their idea as they enter the competition — including what it looks like, how it can be used and what benefit it could bring to the planet. The idea should be accompanied by a drawing or poster to bring it to life, Prince William’s office said in a statement.
The competition also has the backing of five environmental champions who will introduce the five Earthshot challenges — wildlife television presenter and conservationist Steve Backshall will present on Fix Our Climate; wildlife camera operator, conservationist and television presenter Hamza Yassin will help kids learn more about Protect and Restore Nature; actress, filmmaker and environmentalist Bonnie Wright will represent Clean Our Air; wildlife filmmaker and marine biologist Inka Creswell will introduce kids to Revive Our Oceans; and social media creator and entrepreneur Sam Bentley will represent Build a Waste Free World.
“The optimism, creativity and ingenuity of young people is the fuel that powers The Earthshot Prize and our efforts to find and support exciting environmental innovations,” said Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize. “We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Peter to inspire young minds to use their boundless imagination to envision the future they want to live in.”
Prince William founded The Earthshot Prize in 2020 to spend the next decade searching globally for inspiring ideas, innovations and technologies to protect the planet and create a healthy, sustainable future for all people. The competition with Blue Peter will see five overall winners, one for each Earthshot category, and winners will each receive a certificate and an exclusive Blue Peter Orange competition winner’s badge, Kensington Palace said. Winners will also be invited to take part in a special VIP filming with Blue Peter and receive a copy of the Earthshot Prize book A Handbook for Dreamers and Thinkers: Solutions to Repair Our Planet.
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A main motivator that inspired Prince William to start The Earthshot Prize four years ago were his own children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. In 2021, the year after The Earthshot Prize launched, former chief executive of the Royal Foundation Jason Knauf said of Prince William (then styled as the Duke of Cambridge), “The challenge the Duke set himself was, ‘What is the maximum positive personal contribution I can make in the next 10 years in the fight against climate change? What am I going to do in the next decade that means I can look my children in the eye and say that I did my bit?' Every aspect of the Prize bears the stamp of his contribution.”
In the foreword for the book Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet, William expounded on why he created the ambitious project, writing “I have seen people all over the world face what seems like insurmountable challenges yet come together with collective ambition, and a can-do spirit, to find solutions to them. I strongly believe that change is possible, when you put your mind to it.”
The competition launches Sept. 6 and runs through Oct. 28, with winners being announced on Blue Peter in 2025.
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