The Prince of Wales has made a surprise appearance on an Earthshot Prize edition of The Graham Norton Show.
The live audience gasped as William joined Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham on the sofa to speak about the environmental award, which connects all four guests.
Mumbai will stage the Earthshot Prize next month. There, the future king will meet Bollywood stars as he learns about India's hugely popular film industry, play with cricketing royalty and preside over the ceremony awarding £5 million in prize money.
Children across India were encouraged to tackle environmental issues this year under the “I can Earthshot Challenge”, alongside the global finalists.
William's project is halfway through its decades-long cycle to recognise and reward issues and ideas to help save the planet.
The event has already been staged in London, Singapore, Cape Town, Boston and Rio de Janeiro.
Since its launch in 2021, it has attracted a host of stars, including the other members of the Norton sofa on Thursday.
Waddingham hosted the 2023 Earthshot Awards in Singapore, Irwin is a global ambassador for the prize, and Blanchett sits on the Earthshot Prize council.
William spoke with Norton and his fellow guests about the origins of the prize, and its role in identifying and supporting innovators around the world.
He said: "For many years I was hearing stories about environment issues and one thing that struck me was the negativity and doom which got me down.
"I thought we could do something more powerful and more optimistic and the idea of an awards' ceremony came about and we could talk about urgency and optimism together.
“It’s all about getting excited.”
Blanchett described the Prize as a “tapestry of solutions”, while Irwin spoke about the role the prize has played in building a new generation of environmental advocates.
Away from the prize, William also spoke about enjoying Celebrity Traitors, and wanting to be a policeman and a DJ when he was younger.
Singer Jorja Smith performs Dancing live in the studio before joining the group on the sofa for a chat.
The Earthshot Prize edition of The Graham Norton Show will air at 22.40 on Friday on BBC One.
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