The Australian actress, who has won four Golden Globes, has praised the Prince of Wales for his ‘hands-on’ approach to his passion for climate change through the Earthshot project
The Prince of Wales and actress Cate Blanchett(Image: AP)
The Prince of Wales has been praised by Academy award-winning actress Cate Blanchett for being an “extraordinary” climate leader. The Australian actress, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, worked with William on the Earthshot Prize Council: a panel he founded which seeks technological solutions to the climate crisis.
The Hollywood star said the heir to the throne “inherited” his interest from the King, adding that his dedication is evident in how ‘hands-on’ he is. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar UK, 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 spoke candidly about her work with the Prince of Wales in the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which is available to buy at newsstands from August 6.
William and Cate have teamed up several times before, as the pair headed to Norwich last June as they toured laboratories making sustainable clothing dye.
The pair visited four different laboratories that each illustrated a step in Colorifix’s process of making environmentally friendly fabric dye. The UK-based company was an Earthshot Prize finalist in 2023.
After learning about the technical DNA sequencing of natural colours, William quipped: “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’.”
Ms Blanchett said the visit had “certainly been an education in colour and what is possible.” In an impromptu speech to Colorifix’s staff at the end, William praised their work and the ability of the start-up to scale since being named as an Earthshot finalist.
The pair also mingled at the Hobbit film premiere in 2012, the Earthshot Prize awards in Singapore in 2023, and the BAFTAs in 2024.
William has long been an advocate for climate action, most recently posting about the devastating wildfires ravaging Europe during the particularly hot summer season. The prince warned that the fires are a “stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate”.
The Prince of Wales, who is halfway through his 10-year Earthshot Prize project to recognise innovative solutions to solve environmental problems, issued the personal message as fire crews battled wildfires in France, Spain, Greece and the UK.
In a message posted on his official social media accounts, William wrote : “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the UK. We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers working tirelessly in extraordinarily difficult conditions.”
“These events are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate and the importance of protecting both people and nature.” The message was signed W denoting it was a personal statement from the heir to the throne.
Last month, William attended London Climate Action Week, where he said he was feeling “more optimistic than ever” about the planet’s environmental future after evidence his Earthshot Prize finalists are making a difference.
The awards – designed to highlight and scale up some of the world ’s most innovative solutions to the climate change and global environmental crisis — were started in 2020 to run for ten years and hand out £5million in prize money to winners each year, as well as providing them with mentoring and support.
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