SA Presidency "X"
Britain's Prince William played rugby with students. He met young environmentalists Monday at the start of a visit to South Africa for the awards of his Earthshot Prize for solutions to climate change.
The heir to the British throne took to the field at a school in Cape Town's underprivileged township of Ocean View, established under the apartheid regime for people forcibly removed from areas reserved for whites.
Youngsters from the area take part in a rugby training programme established in 2014 by former England rugby player Jason Leonard.
A statement from Kensington Palace said that the 2003 World Cup-winning prop accompanied William to the school.
The statement added that William earlier met environmentalists from Africa and Southeast Asia in Cape Town for an Earthshot Prize climate leaders youth programme that started Monday.
The programme brings together 120 people aged between 18 and 35 working on climate action and sustainability.
???????? His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa receives a courtesy call from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Genadendal, the official residence of the President in Cape Town, Western Cape.
— The Presidency ???????? (@PresidencyZA) November 5, 2024
The Prince of Wales is in South Africa to host the 4th Annual Earthshot Prize… pic.twitter.com/eW1mPVKF8S
The centrepiece of the prince's visit is the announcement of five winners for the annual Earthshot Prize for solutions to environmental problems such as climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss.
Each winner receives one million pounds ($1.3 million).
This is the fourth year the awards have been handed out, with previous ceremonies in Singapore last year, Boston in 2022, and London in 2021.
It is William's first official visit to South Africa since 2010 when he travelled there with his brother, Prince Harry.
William is without his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer.
