The Prince of Wales surprised audiences with an unexpected appearance on The Graham Norton Show as the BBC programme dedicated a special edition to the Earthshot Prize.
The future King joined host Graham Norton on the sofa alongside Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, television presenter Robert Irwin and actress Hannah Waddingham, all of whom are involved with the environmental initiative founded by William.
The special episode, which airs on BBC One on Friday evening, saw Norton introduce the Prince after discussing the Earthshot Prize with his fellow guests.
The conversation focused on the importance of combining optimism with urgency in the fight against climate change, as William continues his efforts to find and support solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Founded by the Prince in 2020, the Earthshot Prize aims to identify, celebrate and scale innovative solutions that could help repair the planet.
The initiative takes inspiration from former US president John F Kennedy’s Moonshot project, which challenged scientists to put astronauts on the Moon and return them safely to Earth.
Five environmental goals form the foundation of the prize: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.
Each year, five winners are selected, with each receiving £1 million to help develop and expand their environmental solutions.
William has committed to the Earthshot Prize until 2030, with this year’s winners due to be announced at a ceremony in Mumbai in November.
The Prince’s appearance on the programme also offered an opportunity to discuss some of his interests away from royal duties and environmental campaigning. The guests spoke about his long-standing support for Aston Villa Football Club and his enthusiasm for the films of Christopher Nolan.
The Earthshot Prize has attracted an increasingly high-profile international audience since its launch. Last year’s ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, where guests included former Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel and then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Musical performances came from Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes.
Among the 2025 winners was Lagos Fashion Week, recognised for its work to transform the fashion industry by encouraging designers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Speaking at last year’s ceremony, William praised the winning projects as “proof that progress is possible”.
Through the Earthshot Prize, the Prince hopes to demonstrate that practical, scalable solutions can help address environmental challenges while inspiring businesses, communities and individuals to take action.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One at 10.40pm on Friday.
