On Sunday, Prince William arrived in Singapore to attend the Asia-based Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, which aims to recognize and assist individuals who are working towards combatting climate change and preserving our planet.

As soon as he arrived, a large group of individuals greeted him with enthusiastic cheers while waving the British flag. The 41-year-old William shook hands, gave autographs, and graciously took selfies with numerous people during a walk around the area.

He expressed his excitement about returning to Singapore for the Earthshot Prize ceremony after a decade, stating that the country’s strong commitment to environmental innovation serves as a model for others to emulate.

Johanes Mario, a Singaporean, welcomed William at the airport and remarked, “He possesses a certain charm. He is truly dedicated to fighting for the climate and I believe this is a noble cause for the future of our generation.”

Before addressing the audience, William took in the magnificent sight of the 40-meter Rain Vortex, the world’s biggest indoor waterfall, from an upper level at Singapore’s Changi Airport. The waterfall was illuminated in green to celebrate his arrival. Additionally, he was given a tour of an indoor garden at the base of the waterfall where a tree had been planted in his honor.

In 2012, the next in line for the British throne, accompanied by his wife, Princess Catherine, traveled to Singapore. This time, William is visiting alone with a specific focus on the Earthshot Prize. He and his Royal Foundation charity created this prize in 2020 to support creative ideas and technologies that address global warming and reduce its effects on the planet.

15 finalists

On Tuesday, five individuals will be announced as the recipients of an award. Each winner will receive one million pounds (equivalent to $1.2 million) to support the expansion of their projects on a global scale. Out of 1,300 nominations, a total of fifteen finalists from six different continents were chosen for this year’s selection. The five winners are divided into categories such as nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination, and climate change.

William will be the speaker at the glamorous event, which will be emceed by English actress Hannah Waddingham. Well-known nature advocate Robert Irwin and famous figures like Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, and actresses Lana Condor and Nomzamo Mbatha are anticipated to be present at the occasion.

The first event took place in London in 2021, and the following year it was held in Boston. The name of the award is a tribute to the famous “moonshot” speech made by former President John F. Kennedy in 1962, which encouraged Americans to land on the moon before the end of the decade. This speech served as inspiration for the prince and his colleagues, who have set a similar objective of addressing urgent environmental issues by 2030.

During his four-day trip, William will visit The Istana palace, which is one of Singapore’s oldest heritage sites, and meet with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, according to Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.

William, an enthusiastic athlete, will also participate in dragon boat racing, a well-liked activity in Singapore and various regions across the globe. He will also engage with Singaporeans to observe the efforts of local organizations in preserving and reviving the environment.

The office of William at Kensington Palace announced that Singapore was selected as the location for this year’s awards event due to its reputation as a leading center for innovation in Southeast Asia.

William will be present at the global summit for United for Wildlife. The summit will include representatives from law enforcement agencies, conservation organizations, and corporations who are collaborating to fight against the illegal trade of wildlife products, which is estimated to be worth $20 billion every year.