In a charming and unexpected revelation, the Prince of Wales has disclosed that his children are huge fans of the classic 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers. Prince William shared this amusing family detail during a conversation with the show's star, John Cleese, at the Tusk Conservation Awards in central London.
A Royal Family Comedy Night
The future King told Cleese, who was joined by his wife Jennifer Wade, that his children had recently discovered the iconic comedy. "My children have just discovered Fawlty Towers, they literally love it, we've been having a lot of family laughs," William said. The Prince added that he had been "reminiscing" and "reliving" the popular series "all over again with the children watching – it's brilliant."
The light-hearted exchange provided a personal touch to the prestigious event, which was held at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday 26 November 2025. The awards ceremony honours individuals dedicated to safeguarding Africa's wildlife and habitats, a cause for which William serves as royal patron of the Tusk Trust wildlife charity.
Celebrity Guests and Conservation Champions
Before the ceremony, the Prince of Wales also conversed with fellow Tusk Trust ambassador and Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood. William noted that Wood was one of the charity's longest-serving ambassadors. Wood was accompanied by his wife, Sally Humphreys, who revealed they have a tradition of sending William and his family chocolates every Easter.
The guest list was a blend of royalty and celebrity, including Zara and Mike Tindall, alongside William's cousins, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.
A Call to Action for Conservation
During a speech to guests, Prince William issued a powerful warning about the urgency of conservation efforts. He stated that this generation must not stand by while "wildlife and biodiversity disappears."
"Humanity thrives when nature is given the space to provide us with the clean air, water and food that we all require," William told the audience. "That is why the insight and expertise of the Tusk award winners should inspire us to drive change. We must continue to amplify their voices and support their vital work."
The Prince emphasised the long-term impact of current actions, adding, "What we choose to do will have an impact on future generations and tonight we must choose to do more."
The 2025 award winners were celebrated for their exceptional contributions:
- Laban Mwangi, a head ranger from Kenya, was named Tusk Wildlife Ranger 2025.
- Rahima Njaidi received the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa for establishing a community-led forest conservation network in Tanzania.
- Kumara Wakjira was honoured with the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa for his work in Ethiopia.
Following his chat with the Prince, John Cleese reflected on the enduring appeal of Fawlty Towers, noting that children immediately understand its themes. "I always explain it's about 'who's scared of who' and kids pick that up immediately," Cleese said. "And mine, all those years ago, grew up watching it."
