Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett has praised the Prince of Wales as an “extraordinary” climate leader for his hands-on work with the Earthshot Prize. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, Blanchett, who starred as Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, said William inherited his passion for the environment from the King.
Blanchett's Praise for William's Dedication
Speaking to the magazine, Blanchett said: “(He’s been) an extraordinary leader, very hands-on in a consistent and practically engaged way. He has inherited that interest (from the King). He’s grown up with it.” The actress has worked alongside William on the Earthshot Prize Council, a panel he founded to seek technological solutions to the climate crisis.
The two have collaborated multiple times, including a visit to Norwich last June to tour laboratories developing sustainable clothing dye. They visited four labs demonstrating steps in Colorifix’s process, a UK-based company that was an Earthshot Prize finalist in 2023.
Shared Moments and Climate Advocacy
After learning about DNA sequencing of natural colours, William joked: “Today has just made me realise I should have listened in all of my chemistry lessons. Going back over all those old notes like ‘Damn, why didn’t I pay more attention’.” Blanchett described the visit as “certainly been an education in colour and what is possible.”
The pair have also met at the Hobbit film premiere in 2012, the Earthshot Prize awards in Singapore in 2023, and the BAFTAs in 2024. William has long advocated for climate action, recently posting about wildfires in Europe, calling them “a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate.”
Earthshot Prize Progress
William, halfway through his 10-year Earthshot project, said he felt “more optimistic than ever” after seeing his finalists make a difference. The awards, started in 2020, provide £5million in prize money annually to winners, along with mentoring and support.
