The Prince of Wales has announced his patronage of an upcoming expedition across Antarctica, and one with a personal twist.
Prince William will support The Onwards Expedition, a forthcoming expedition planned by Max Worsley, the son of Henry Worsley, an explorer who trekked several times to the South Pole and who counted upon the future king as a patron of his final expedition 10 years ago.
In a statement shared by Kensington Palace, Prince William said: “I was immensely proud to have supported his father Henry, and it is deeply moving to see Max skiing the same route ten years on, demonstrating the same courage, determination and sense of purpose that defined his father’s life.”
The Onwards Expedition will see Max and Martin Nesse, a Norwegian adventurer, ski completely unsupported across 1,349 kilometres of Antarctica to the geographic South Pole. This will be the same journey that Henry Worlsey attempted solo in 2016, and which caused him to suffer exhaustion and severe dehydration, leading to being airlifted out of Antarctica with only 30 kilometres before he finished the trek.
Henry Worlsey died of multiple organ failure from bacterial peritonitis on 24 January 2016 and was posthumously awarded the Polar Medal the following year for his many treks to the South Pole.
At the time of his death, William said “[Henry] was a man who showed great courage and determination and we’re incredibly proud to be associated with him. Even after retiring from the Army, Henry continued to show selfless commitment to his fellow servicemen and women by undertaking this extraordinary Shackelton solo expedition on their behalf.”
With The Onwards Expedition, Kensington Palace revealed that Max will face temperatures of -40 Celsius, hurricane-force winds, and a climb of 2,800 metres above sea level as they retrace Henry’s final route.
“This expedition is not only a powerful tribute to Henry’s legacy, but also a reminder of Antarctica’s vital importance to the health of our planet,” Prince William added.
“Using this challenge to inspire young people to connect with nature and understand the role they play in protecting it is something I greatly admire, and I wish Max and Martin every success as they prepare for this remarkable endeavour.”
The Onward Expedition will support Prince William’s Earthshot Prize and the British Exploring Society via awareness and fundraising efforts throughout the preparations and the trek. The BBC is also following Max and Martin as they prepare, and will film a documentary about the trek and Henry’s legacy.
“It is a great honour to have The Prince of Wales as Patron for my Antarctic project, The Onwards Expedition, after the support he so kindly gave my father for his final expedition,” Max said in a statement shared by Kensington Palace.
The 60-day expedition will start at the Outer Coastal Zone of Antarctica, which is north of Berkner Island, in November.
