Prince William: He meets Steve Irwin’s son Robert

A special moment for nature conservation: On the second day of his trip to South Africa, Prince William (42) met the son of Australian TV legend Steve Irwin (1962-2006). With environmentalist Robert Irwin (20), who was recently appointed ambassador for the Earthshot Prize, the British heir to the throne hiked up Signal Hill in Cape Town, a popular vantage point with a spectacular view of the metropolis.

After the meeting, 20-year-old Robert Irwin was enthusiastic: “You immediately feel the passion of the rangers and volunteers here at Signal Hill. You can’t help but fall in love with this place,” he said. “Prince William, myself and everyone else here have definitely fallen in love with Cape Town.”

William and Irwin Jr. also used the hike to have serious conversations about conservation. “I had a really great conversation with Prince William about the importance of supporting Rangers,” said Robert Irwin. “They are at the forefront of conservation and it’s important to remember that conservation can be a dangerous business today.” He is very pleased that the prince is ensuring that rangers receive the appreciation, resources and support they need.

Signal Hill is part of Table Mountain National Park and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is home to rare and endangered plant species, particularly the unique fynbos vegetation, which accounts for 80 percent of the Cape Flora’s species.

After the hike, William met rangers, firefighters, mountain rescuers and young people who are committed to protecting biological diversity. A high-level meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (71) was later on the agenda.

The British High Commissioner in South Africa, Antony Phillipson (53), underlined the importance of the royal visit: “We are very pleased to have the Prince of Wales here this week for Earthshot Week.” During his stay, William will also attend Earthshot+, a conference with leading experts designed to amplify the impact of the environmental prize he founded. Wednesday’s Earthshot Awards will be the highlight of William’s visit. Williams Since 2021, the environmental prize has been awarded in five categories: nature conservation, ocean revitalization, air cleanliness, waste prevention and climate protection. The winning projects will each receive prize money of one million British pounds, the equivalent of around 1.2 million euros.

Robert Irwin is one of the celebrities supporting the Earthshot Prize. He has followed in his father’s footsteps as a conservationist, television personality, zookeeper and wildlife photographer. Documentary filmmaker Steve Irwin died unexpectedly during a diving expedition in 2006 after the star known as “The Crocodile Hunter” was stabbed in the heart by a stingray on the Great Barrier Reef.