Prince William is set to attend the 2025 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Brazil next month, but he’ll reportedly be making the journey without his wife, Kate Middleton.
The November 5 event, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, marks the first time the Earthshot Prize is being hosted in South America and the halfway point of the prize’s 10-year mission.
The Prince of Wales founded the initiative in 2020. However, he will once again lead the ceremony solo.
According to reports, the Princess of Wales will remain at the family’s home in Windsor to care for their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Kate Middleton ‘may not attend’ Earthshot Prize Awards with Prince William
While Kate is known to be a strong supporter of the Earthshot Prize mission, her reported absence isn’t tied to the event itself.
Instead, it reflects the couple’s ongoing commitment to hands-on parenting.
As reported by the Express, the royal couple have an agreement to ensure that at least one parent is always present with their children, particularly during term time, to handle school drop-offs and pick-ups.
This is consistent with previous years. Kate did not attend the 2024 Earthshot ceremony in Cape Town either, choosing to remain in the UK. Her last in-person appearance at the awards was in Boston in 2022.
Kensington Palace has been contacted for comment.
William acknowledged their family’s absence during last year’s event in South Africa. “My children would love to be here, so would Catherine,” he told attendees.
The Earthshot Prize aims to discover bold, innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
Each year, five winners are awarded £1 million for their work.
Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, said the initiative was created at a “decisive moment” for the planet.
“The Earthshot Prize was also founded because Prince William believes that this decade can be a great human success story,” he told PEOPLE. “That with urgency and optimism, we can make these years count. Today, as we stand at the halfway mark of our mission, our work feels more important than ever.”
William makes Earthshot Prize announcement
To mark the reveal of this year’s finalists, Prince William shared a reflective video from beneath an oak tree, the same spot where he first announced the prize five years ago.
In the video, he spoke passionately about the passing of time and the urgency of action.
“Back then, a decade felt a long time. George was seven, Charlotte five and Louis two. The thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away. But today… 2030 feels very real,” he said.
He called 2030 “a threshold by which future generations will judge us,” and warned that the choices we make now will “shape forever the trajectory of our planet”.
Despite the challenges ahead, William remains hopeful.
“The people behind these projects are heroes of our time,” he continued. “Let us back them. If we do, we can make the world cleaner, safer, and full of opportunity. Not only for future generations but for the lives we want to lead now.”
This year’s awards will be held at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. The event is expected to draw leaders in sustainability and science.
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