Robert Irwin and future king take London bus ride

Prince William surprised royal watchers by arriving in London aboard a green double-decker bus with none other than Aussie ‘wildlife warrior’ Robert Irwin for an event linked to his pet project, the Earthshot Prize.

The duo travelled to London’s Guildhall aboard the electric bus ahead of The Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly, where the Prince of Wales met with innovators, investors and leaders who are supporting the environmental initiative he founded in 2020, of which Irwin is an ambassador.

The event, which coincided with London Climate Action Week, also celebrated some of the current finalists and the winners of past awards.

The Earthshot Prize was founded by the Royal Foundation, the charity Prince William runs alongside the Princess of Wales, to find “the most inspiring solutions to the world’s greatest challenges” − protecting the environment.

Each year, it awards five winners a grant of $1.9 million to those who are trying to achieve one of its five goals: protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world and fix our climate.

It is now halfway through its 10-year tenure.

“When we launched the Earthshot prize in 2020, we believed we could show the world evidence of progress − progress towards what felt like immense climate and nature goals,” Prince William told those gathered at the event overnight.

“Today, we have more than belief − we now have proof. Solutions are working, capital is moving, policy is shifting, partnerships are forming.”

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Elsewhere during the speech, Prince William said the planet did not have time for “inch-by-inch change”.

“One day, people will look back at this decade and ask: when the evidence was clear, what did we do with it?” he said.

“The challenge can still feel immense, but the proof is now in front of us. And history will ask what we did with it.”

It was the second appearance for the Prince at a London Climate Action Week event in as many days.

The previous day, he attended a business forum convened by another of the Royal Foundation’s initiatives, the United for Wildlife charity, where he rubbed shoulders with US Vice President turned environmentalist Al Gore and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson.

During that event, he told Gore the Earthshot Prize “keeps my environmental anxiety at bay, because I can actually see some of the things we are doing are bringing change”.

“There are actually tangible benefits and it helps me sleep at night.”

The next Earthshot Prize will be held in Mumbai, India, in November.

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Prince William previously spoke about his desire to leave the planet in a better place for his three children during an interview to promote his 2020 documentary Prince William: A Planet for Us All.

“My grandfather, my father, have been in conservation, the environmental work for many years,” he said.

“My grandfather was well ahead of his time. My father was ahead of his time.

“I really want to make sure that, in 20 years, George doesn’t turn around and say, are you ahead of your time? Because if he does, we’re too late.

“I feel it is my duty, and our collective responsibility, to leave our planet in a stronger position for our children.”

Prince William has teamed up with Irwin a number of times to promote the Earthshot Prize and the two have formed a strong bond.

The Prince of Wales even filmed a video message for Irwin when he appeared on the US Dancing with the Stars in 2025, which he went on to win, and has paid tribute to Irwin’s father Steve.

The royal children also teamed up with Irwin this year to choose the name of a new joey at Australia Zoo.