This morning, King Charles III marked a significant milestone as he presided over the opening of Parliament for the first time as Monarch. His journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster, a symbolic mile traversed on this crisp November morning, saw him accompanied by his sister, Princess Anne, fulfilling the traditional role of Gold-Stick-in-Waiting.
King Charles III sits on the throne in the House of Lords as he delivers the King's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament
Seated upon the gilded throne in the House of Lords, King Charles delivered the King’s Speech, this year donning the crown that symbolizes the weight of the monarchy. His address echoed the solemnity of the occasion, marking a departure from the previous year, where he stood in for his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, just months before her passing. While he wore the crown, he chose to place it aside during the speech, a gesture perhaps acknowledging the legacy of his mother, who graced this role for seven remarkable decades.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, the heir apparent, Prince William, embarked on a whirlwind trip culminating in the highly anticipated Earthshot Prize Awards. His journey included a stop in Singapore, where he engaged with the finalists the night before the ceremony, offering encouragement and highlighting the importance of their work.
Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit
The Earthshot Prize, now in its third year, celebrates groundbreaking solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. Five winners are selected annually, each receiving a generous grant of £1 million (approximately $1.2 million) to further their impactful projects. Prince William emphasized the prize’s focus on scalability, stating, “It’s all about scale now. My job is to really kind of bring the money in, the capital and the private sector into the Earthshot, and meet the solutions and go, ‘Come on, how can we scale? How can we do more?'”
The awards ceremony, hosted in Singapore, boasted a star-studded lineup, including renowned actress Cate Blanchett and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who graced the green carpet. Musical guests included the popular band OneRepublic, adding to the excitement of the evening. Noticeably absent from the green carpet this year was the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who attended the previous year’s ceremony in Boston.
The Earthshot Prize 2023 shone a spotlight on ambitious dreams and innovative solutions aimed at tackling climate change and safeguarding the environment. Prince William’s passion for the initiative was evident in his enthusiastic engagement throughout the event. While the Princess of Wales’ absence was noted, the ceremony’s focus remained on the inspiring work of the finalists and their dedication to creating a more sustainable future.
