He may be next in line to the throne, but Prince Charles is also just a proud father. The Prince of Wales praised both Prince Harry and Prince William for their environmental efforts in a new essay for Newsweek.
Writing for the magazine’s climate change issue, the heir also compared the climate emergency to the Cuban Missile Crisis, arguing that though the stakes are high, humankind can overcome the threat.
“As a father, I am proud that my sons have recognised this threat,” Charles wrote. “Most recently, my elder son, William, launched the prestigious Earthshot Prize to incentivise change and help repair our planet over the next ten years by identifying and investing in the technologies that can make a difference.”
He continued, “My younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero.”
It’s the first time Charles has spoken about the Duke of Sussex since he stepped back from his royal role in 2020, and it comes after the queen failed to acknowledge Harry’s environmental contributions when praising other members of the family last year.
Samir Hussein//Getty Images
Harry and William have credited Charles for their keen interest in environmental activism; Charles wrote that it was his own father, too, who inspired him.
“Sixty years ago, my late father identified the damage humankind was inflicting on the planet and helped to found the World Wildlife Fund,” he shared. “A decade later, when I first spoke publicly about the environment, many wondered if my sense of urgency was misplaced. That view has shifted in the intervening decades, though all too slowly, and, even today, lacks the urgency needed.”
In the essay, he also described the environmental degradation that he has seen during visits to Jordan, Egypt, and, most recently, Barbados, and shared his three-point plan to “create a cleaner, safer and healthier planet for future generations.”
Speaking to the urgency for people and businesses around the world to take action before it’s too late, he said, “At present, there is none more pressing than putting nature, people and our singular and fragile planet at the heart of how we live, work and do business to create the brightest possible future for humanity.”
Charles added, “The time is now. The eyes of our children and grandchildren are judging us. Let ours be the generation that can. And does. As we enter a new year, there is not a moment to lose.”
Omid Scobie is BAZAAR.com’s Royal Editor at Large and has covered the lives and philanthropic work of the younger members of the British Royal Family for over eight years. As well as spearheading exclusive coverage of major royal milestones (including the weddings of both the Cambridges and Sussexes), Scobie has traveled extensively with Harry, Meghan, William and Kate on their engagements in the U.K. and around the world. As ABC News’s Royal Contributor, Scobie is a regular on Good Morning America and host of the network’s forthcoming podcast, The Heir Pod.
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