Prince William Launches Earthshot Prize Amid Royal Family Strife

Prince William launched the annual Earthshot Prize this week, announcing the finalists for the environmental award aimed at repairing the planet. His brother, Prince Harry, made his first public appearance since returning to the UK, attending an Invictus event while questions swirled about the ongoing controversy surrounding their uncle Earl Spencer's new memoir detailing Princess Diana's life.

The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, recognizes innovative solutions to environmental challenges. This year's finalists will compete for £1 million in prize money across five categories: Revive our Oceans, Fix our Climate, Build a Waste-Free World, Protect and Restore Nature, and Clean our Air. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Mumbai in November, which Prince William is expected to attend.

William, in a video released to promote the event, voiced concerns about urgent environmental issues like drought and stressed water supplies but expressed optimism, stating that the finalists demonstrate that progress is possible. "Every year, our finalists give me renewed optimism," he said. "They show us that, even as the environmental challenges remain urgent, extraordinary people around the world are already proving that progress is possible."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in Greenwich. He largely ignored questions about Earl Spencer's book, which includes allegations about Prince Charles's reactions to Diana's death and marital struggles. Harry described his return to the UK as "eventful" but expressed happiness to be back on British soil and focusing on his work. The Duke of Sussex's wife, Meghan, was not present at the event.

The controversy stems from Earl Spencer's memoir, "Swan Song," which makes several claims about Princess Diana and her relationship with the then-Prince Charles. These include an alleged remark by Prince Charles days after Diana's death, stating "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough," and claims that Charles sounded "elated" following her death. The memoir also alleges that Diana considered suicide and drove herself to Beachy Head cliffs, and that Charles told her he was not in love with her the day before their wedding. Earl Spencer also recounted an offer from the late Queen to restore Diana's royal title on the day of her funeral, which he ultimately declined.

The Palace has reportedly questioned the veracity of some of Earl Spencer's claims, suggesting that grief can affect memory. The book's publication has coincided with Prince Harry and Meghan's return to the UK, though sources close to the Duke insist he has not read the memoir. The couple recently experienced a disruption when their children were removed from school due to security concerns.

Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, emphasized that the initiative "does not do politics" and highlighted the global nature of the finalists' solutions. He noted that "environmental leadership is coming from every corner of the globe, with a huge number of groundbreaking solutions being driven from the Global South."