Prince William made a high-profile solo visit to Monaco on June 8, emphasizing his burgeoning status as a global statesman.
On the eve of World Oceans Day, Prince William expanded his environmental agenda by giving a high-profile speech in Monaco with world leaders and other royals to highlight the grave threat to marine life.
On June 8, the 42-year-old Prince of Wales attended the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, where he spoke in front of French President Emmanuel Macron, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and Prince Albert of Monaco, whose Grimaldi Forum hosted the event.
In his remarks, William urged immediate action, stating, “We gather here united by our strong connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety. Many of us have fond recollections of exploring nature and relying on its bounty for sustenance.
“And yet, all too often, it can feel distant and disconnected from our everyday lives, allowing us to forget just how vital it is,” according to him. “The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth.”
The gathering marked a significant milestone in the preparation for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, underscoring William’s increasing diplomatic influence globally.
The performance comes as King Charles undergoes cancer treatment, with William increasingly taking the limelight. The Prince of Wales, like his father, is a long-time environmentalist and environmental enthusiast, so ocean protection is a natural match for his increasing worldwide platform.
With oceans spanning 70% of the Earth’s surface, producing half of its oxygen, and feeding over 3 billion people, William highlighted that safeguarding marine biodiversity is a worldwide priority. However, the current protection of just 3% of the ocean falls short of the target of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030.
The prince holds the belief that fostering optimism about achievable and ongoing efforts is equally crucial as highlighting the challenges facing the maritime environment.
His decade-long Earthshot Prize, which will next be held in Rio de Janeiro, seeks to highlight and scale viable environmental solutions, and five previous finalists visited him in Monaco to discuss their accomplishments.
Among them was Coral Vita, the 2021 Earthshot winner for its work repairing coral reefs by growing coral on land and transplanting it in the water. The group has grown over 100,000 corals from 52 different species. Pristine Seas, which was also a 2021 contender, has subsequently collaborated with Indigenous groups and governments to conserve three large oceanic regions, the size of Germany in total.
The Monaco visit occurred only a day after Kensington Palace published a brief video of William’s recent discussion with famed environmentalist Sir David Attenborough, who is back this month with a new documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough. At 99, the renowned broadcaster still encourages action, and his conversation with William adds to the prince’s expanding role in promoting environmental voices and solutions.
As William approaches the fifth year of Earthshot, his efforts demonstrate a growing dedication not just to raising awareness but also to advancing legislation, finance, and innovation to ensure a sustainable future for the planet’s most endangered ecosystems.