Prince William Wants His Kids Surrounded by Nature and Opportunity

Prince William is concerned that his children may not have the same opportunities that he had unless drastic changes are made to safeguard the environment.

The Prince of Wales, 43, shares three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — with his wife, Princess Kate. While speaking to HELLO! ahead of this week’s Earthshot Prize ceremony, he revealed that it is concerns for his children’s future that drive him to keep working on the global initiative to tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. 

“As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit,” Prince William told HELLO! in their Nov. 4 issue. “I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity, and a sense of hope about the future. 

“But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk,” he added. 

Prince William launched his Earthshot Prize back in October 2020, with the aim of incentivizing change that repairs the planet over the next decade. 

This year’s Earthshot Awards ceremony is set to take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — and William’s attendance marks his first official trip to South America. 

“Urgent optimism is the heartbeat of The Earthshot Prize,” he told HELLO! “It’s the belief that although the challenges we face are immense, the solutions are within reach, and we must act with speed and conviction to bring them to life.”

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He continued, “‘Rio, with its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, feels like the perfect place to celebrate the power of environmental innovation.”

Prince William’s sit-down with HELLO! magazine comes just weeks after he spoke about plans for his children’s future with Eugene Levy on the Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler. 

The Prince of Wales opened up like never before in the rare TV appearance, where he spoke with candor about his wife’s and King Charles‘ cancer diagnoses, raising his children, and his vision for change when he becomes King.

As his son, Prince George, is in the direct line of succession to the throne, it’s a priority that he’s prepared by the future king, and William also wants to make his boy proud!

“I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do,” said Prince William on the Oct. 3 episode. “A world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.”

The interview also saw William lead Levy on a personal tour of the nearly 1,000-year-old Windsor Castle and pop into a local pub.