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Prince William at TreeTop Walk© Getty

Prince William wants to 'go a step further' than royal family to support his causes

The Prince of Wales outlined his ambitious plans for the future on his last day in Singapore

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
November 8, 2023
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The Prince of Wales has said he wants to "go a step further" than his family and bring real change to the causes he supports.

Speaking to travelling British print media on the final day of his four-day visit to Singapore for the Earthshot Prize awards, William praised the royal family's work "spotlighting" causes, but said he wanted to do more than just be a patron.

Homelessness has long been an issue that William has pledged to tackle over the years, having launched his Homewards project in June.

He added he wanted to help build homes and deliver mental health support, education and employment opportunities.

William said: "So I think the thing that ties it all together for me is about social leadership.

"That's what I'm trying to find my way in, is I care about so many things, and previously the family have been very much spotlighting brilliantly and going round and highlighting lots – I want to go a step further – I want to actually bring change and I want to bring people to the table who can do the change if I can't do it.

Prince William talks at Earthshot+ panel© Getty
William taking part in the panel discussion at Earthshot+

"And so it's all about progressing, helping and advancing particular social causes that need to be given more support.

"I've been in the homelessness sector for a long time now, and so rather than just being patron I want to do more, I want to actually build the homes, I want to provide them with the mental support, all the employment and the education they might need."

Prince William on TreeTop Walk© Getty
William visiting TreeTop Walk

The future King added: "So it's all these wraparound services, it's kind of going deeper and longer, than it is the case of just having loads of causes that you sort of turn up and keep an eye on.

"It's more about: how do I show my intent more? How do we do more for you? And give you a better, better future.

"But you have to remain focused, if you spread yourself too thin you just can't manage it and you won’t deliver the impact or the change that you really want to happen."

It comes after William attended the third annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, which recognises solutions to “repair” the planet, and saw five winners handed £1 million each to support efforts to scale their innovative climate and environmental solutions.

See his arrival on the green carpet in the clip below...

WATCH: Prince William arrives at the Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore

Reflecting on the ceremony, the Prince said he was "still digesting" after the ceremony and that Earthshot was "still on the go, doing loads of meetings" and added that this year "feels bigger than last year, so we’re progressing and we’re building as we go".

Hannah Waddingham and Prince William attend the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony in Singapore© Getty
William arriving at the Earthshot Prize Awards with Hannah Waddingham

He added: "I think that’s the key aim is that every year we’ve got to get bigger and reach more people – the profile is massive so we need to make that bigger and better.

"And this is the first time we've come into Asia, so it's important the Asian market see us, know what the actual prize is. We've predominantly obviously done western with the UK and Boston. So I think it's all about working out: where do we go next? How do we join the dots?"

He added that the impact investment side is "really crucial" because Earthshot is not "just an awards ceremony".

William wears lab coat and goggles at Centre for Wildlife Forensics© Getty
William meeting scientists at the Centre for Wildlife Forensics

William said: "People think this is philanthropy. They think it’s just a prize ceremony. It's not, this is so much more.

"It’s about, how much impact can we achieve by scaling and building up and spotlighting these incredible people with brilliant solutions?

"We've just got to join some more dots between policy regulators, governments’ money, and then you blend it all together and then see the impact from that."

LISTEN: How Prince William is helping to save the world 

On the final day of his visit, the Prince kicked off his morning with a hike at the TreeTop Walk in the MacRitchie Reservoir Park.

He then sat in on two Earthshot+ panels during Wednesday morning's plenary session, before taking part in his own fireside conversation.

William then visited Singapore's Centre for Wildlife Forensics to see how the country is using science and technology to challenge the smuggling gangs. 

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