Prince of Wales to feature in new BBC Earthshot documentary

The Prince of Wales is to feature in a new BBC documentary about the Earthshot Prize amid a PR push on his projects in the UK and the US.

Prince William will introduce The Earthshot Report – which will be presented by Hannah Waddingham, the actress, and will highlight the “impact and exciting growth” of finalists – to the BBC audience, a royal source said.

In a brief trailer released on social media, the Prince says: “Our planet needs our help and every year counts, so what have we achieved in 2024?”

He was filmed sheltering under an umbrella as he walked through woodland in Buckinghamshire.

The documentary will be broadcast on the BBC on Dec 15 and on Public Broadcasting Service in the US on Dec 18.

The announcement comes weeks after a two-part ITV documentary explored the Prince’s efforts to tackle homelessness, which was available to international audiences on Disney+.

Prince William: We Can End Homelessness was broadcast in October and featured extensive interviews with the Prince as he described how he had tried to work out how best to use his platform, having taken inspiration and guidance from the work of his late mother, Princess Diana.

The Earthshot documentary is the latest example of efforts to ensure the Prince’s key work projects are disseminated to as wide an audience as possible.

It comes as he gradually increases his profile on the international stage, positioning himself as a global statesman while preparing to one day become King.

It will explore the stories of environmental innovators working across the globe, and their efforts to protect and restore the planet for future generations, and feature interviews with Earthshot finalists and winners including UK-based Notpla, which produces seaweed-based packaging as an alternative to plastic.

A Palace source said: “We are always looking for innovative new ways to tell these stories.”

Waddingham, who stars in Ted Lasso, the hit Apple TV+ show, has been closely involved in Earthshot and presented last year’s award ceremony in Singapore.

Hannah Jones, the chief executive of the Earthshot Prize, said: “At a time when there is so much pessimism about the environment, The Earthshot Report is the dose of urgent optimism we need.

“We are proud to be able to amplify the inspiring stories of Earthshot innovators and showcase the growing global movement of climate creativity they are leading.

“We are honoured to collaborate with the BBC and PBS to bring these compelling stories of Earthshot innovators and entrepreneurs to millions of people across the globe.”