Kate 'not expected' to join Prince William in Singapore for Earthshot Prize

Prince William has arrived in New York City today for the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, where finalists for this year's awards will be announced – and he's flying solo.

The Princess of Wales hasn't joined her husband on this trip, attending to her own duties back in the UK – visiting a Royal Navy air station in her new role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Army, a recent appointment from King Charles.

Kate also isn't expected to join Prince William when he travels to for the Earthshot Prize award ceremony in Singapore in November. The Wales' decision to not complete a foreign tour this year indicates she will not be in attendance.

It is believed the princess will be staying in the UK, a decision likely made to take care of their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

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Despite not being in attendance this year, Kate has been a great supporter of her husband's Earthshot Prize pursuit.

She joined him at last year's ceremony, travelling to Boston for the inaugural event. Following the reported eco-friendly advice for attendees to "consider their clothing", the Princess of Wales rented a lime green Solace London dress from the renting fashion platform HURR.

She accessorised with an emerald choker that had previously been worn by Princess Diana. It was gifted to Queen Mary in 1911 by the Ladies of India and later given to Diana on a lifetime loan by Queen Elizabeth.

Kate also accompanied her husband at the Earthshot ceremony in London in 2021.

William initiated the environmental prize initiative in 2020, telling the BBC he was "trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live."

The Earthshot Prize which will be annually awarded until 2030, holds a ceremony to honour the winners of its five categories. The winners are creating innovations that combat environmental challenges with each being awarded £1 million to use towards their work.

Kate and William have only visited the US twice in an official capacity. They travelled to California after a tour of Canada in 2011, just three months after their royal wedding.

In 2014, the pair travelled to New York City together, where they met Beyoncé and JAY-Z at a basketball game as well as attending a gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and visiting the National September 11 Memorial.

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Announcing this year's Earthshot Prize ceremony would be in Singapore, Prince William stated, 'The Earthshot Prize is all about showing the world that solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges we face are out there. '

'After two years of discovering impactful ideas and innovations, I am delighted that The Earthshot Prize is travelling to Singapore, where the ground-breaking solutions of our 2023 Finalists will be celebrated.'

The Prince of Wales credits the inspiration for Earthshot to John F. Kennedy's Moonshot programme.

This initiative challenged America to be the first man on the moon, which assisted in the 1969 moon landing.

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The winner of the Earthshot prize last year included Notpla, a British start-up that used seaweed to make packaging.

The finalists for this year are yet to be announced, however, they will fit into five categories covering 'simple and ambitious goals to repair our planet' which aim to 'protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World and Fix our Climate.