The Earthshot Prize Ceremony Preceded by Prince William’s Participation in Dragon Boating

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Prior to the commencement of the Earthshot Prize award events, Prince William joined an invigorating session of dragon boating in Singapore on Monday, demonstrating a commitment to environmental innovation.

Equipped with a life jacket and sporting a black cap, the Prince took his place in the slender vessel alongside members of the British Dragons team to navigate the waters of the Kallang River. With determined strokes, he and 19 fellow rowers propelled the boat, keeping time with the rhythm set by a drummer positioned at the front.

In a friendly competition, the Prince’s team emerged victorious against another team led by the British High Commissioner Kara Owen. The Prince is no stranger to the sport, having previously partaken in dragon boating during a Canadian tour in 2011 with his wife, Kate, the Princess of Wales.

The roots of dragon boat racing stretch back two millennia to China, and it was officially recognized as an international sport in 1976.

Laura Greenwood, a British expatriate and member of the British Dragons, expressed her delight at paddling alongside the Prince, praising his amiable nature and noting his previous experience with the sport that enabled him to comfortably keep pace with the team’s swift movements.

At the age of 41, William arrived in Singapore on Sunday for the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, marking the first occasion it is hosted in Asia. The global environmental competition was initiated in 2020 by William and his Royal Foundation to encourage groundbreaking approaches to addressing climate change and restoring ecological balance.

During the gala on Tuesday, the Prince will deliver a speech, and the winners will be announced across five categories: nature conservation, air purification, ocean restoration, waste reduction, and climate action.

Each of the five winners will receive 1 million pounds (approximately $1.2 million) to advance their initiatives for broader international application. Support will also be provided to all 15 finalists, who have been chosen from a pool of 1,300 nominations across six continents this year.

The event will feature Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown as co-hosts and will see the attendance of distinguished guests such as wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett, and actors Lana Condor and Nomzamo Mbatha.

The Earthshot Prize draws its name from President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “moonshot” address, which set an ambitious goal for the American people. This historical reference fuels the Prince’s vision to achieve a similar scale of environmental solutions by the year 2030.

The ceremony was first held in London in 2021, followed by Boston in the subsequent year.

The choice of Singapore as this year’s venue by the Prince’s team at Kensington Palace highlights the city-state’s reputation as a nexus for innovation in the Southeast Asian region.

In his first visit to Singapore since 2012, over a four-day period, Prince William is scheduled to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The Prince’s agenda also includes participation in the United for Wildlife summit, which gathers law enforcement, conservation groups, and business leaders to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, a market valued at $20 billion a year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Earthshot Prize Ceremony

More about Earthshot Prize Ceremony

• Prince William’s Sporting Endeavours
• The Earthshot Prize Official Website
• Dragon Boating: A Cultural History
• Earthshot Prize Ceremony Details
• Singapore as an Innovation Hub
• United for Wildlife Summit Information