Friday’s ceremony to announce the winners of the Earthshot Prize saw Prince William and Princess Kate mark the end of their quick visit to Boston.
David Beckham, Catherine O’Hara, and Rami Malek were among those who handed out awards at the event, which also celebrated and provided funding for environmental initiatives that will make the world a better place for future generations. Billie Eilish entertained viewers remotely.
After the ceremony was a success, guests mingled with the royal couple. Former footballer David defied convention by leaning in and kissing Princess Kate on the cheek.
In other photos, singers Chloe and Halle Bailey and their close friend Ellie Goulding, who sang at their 2011 wedding, could be seen having fun with William and Kate.
William addressed the crowd before the ceremony began by saying: “In 2020, I established this Prize with the goal of capturing the same inventiveness that led President John F. Kennedy to challenge the American people to send a person to the moon within ten years. It has therefore been a privilege to share the tales of our Earthshot finalists and winners from the center of his hometown.”
“I firmly believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening demonstrate that we are capable of overcoming the most difficult problems facing our planet, and that by promoting and scaling them, we can alter the course of human history. “It’s my hope that the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive, along with tonight’s winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come.”
Photo: Rex
And the solutions developed by tonight’s Earthshot Prize winners can provide hope in the same way that the space effort did sixty years ago by creating jobs, boosting economies, and doing so.
“We must choose the path of hope, optimism, and urgency to repair our planet because the choices we make now will have an impact on generations to come.”
The Prince of Wales wore a dapper black tie suit to the lavish event, and the Princess of Wales looked chic in a bright green dress, paying homage to the green theme. Kate and William looked stunning.
Mukuru Clean Stoves, Kheyti, Indigenous Women of the Great Barrier Reef, Notpla, and 44.01 were the five winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize.
Kate gave the Clean Our Air award to Mukuru Clean Stoves, a start-up that gives women in Kenya cleaner-burning stoves to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and give them a safer way to cook.
Kate entered the room and spoke: “We all take it for granted that we can breathe clean air. But regrettably, it is not a given for millions of people all over the world. Air pollution poses a threat that knows no boundaries, from the impact seen in nature to the smog that covers cities. Tragically, every day, more than 250 million children under the age of five breathe contaminated air.
“And since we are aware of the serious effects pollution has on our long-term development, learning this fact is all the more difficult. However, there are causes for optimism. And I’m excited to look at the work that our three finalists did and their suggestions for improving our air quality.”
The Protect and Restore Nature Award was presented by actress Catherine to Kheyti, a ground-breaking program that helps smallholder farmers in India who are suffering from the effects of climate change to cut costs, boost yields, and protect livelihoods.
Shailene Woodley presented Australia’s Indigenous Women of the Great Barrier Reef with the Revive Our Oceans Award. This inspiring women-led initiative combines 60,000 years of indigenous knowledge with digital technologies to protect land and sea.
The Build a Waste-free World award was given by David Beckham to Notpla, a British startup that is developing a seaweed-based substitute for plastic packaging and has already produced more than 1 million takeout food boxes.
Rami Malek, an Oscar winner, also appeared on stage to present the Fix our Climate award to 44.01, an organization with a base in Oman. Childhood friends who invented 44.01 have created a novel method to turn CO2 into rock and store it permanently underground.
A standing ovation greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales as they entered the stage to begin the ceremony, which honored the colonists who arrived in Boston 400 years ago.
Photo: Rex
“Respect the lands and waters,” Elizabeth Solomon, a Ponkapoag from the Massachusetts tribe, urged the audience.
During the green carpet, Rami discussed the crisis and said: “We are currently experiencing the biggest crisis of our lifetime, and it is likely that future generations will also experience the biggest crisis. But hopefully the measures we take now will make that challenge less difficult for them.”
The audience enjoyed a variety of musical performances, including those by Annie Lennox, who sang Here Comes the Rain Again, and Billie Eilish, who sang My Future virtually.
The iconic Feeling Good song by Nina Simone was performed beautifully by Chloe x Halle.
Photo: Rex
John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot goal served as the model for the Earthshot initiative, and his daughter Caroline attended the Boston-based gathering.
Prior to the event, William spent time with Caroline while she gave him a tour of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
The awards presentation will be recorded on Friday and broadcast on Sunday.
