News that the Princess of Wales is not accompanying her husband to be at his side at his Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Singapore next month has caused some disquiet.
She has decided instead to stay home to look after their three children during an important week as Prince George, 10, has school exams and his mother believes she should be at home in Windsor to support him.
William launched the awards in 2020 to promote impactful approaches to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, with plans to award the prizes until 2030.
Kate has attended the first two awards ceremonies in London and Boston. She presented the “Clean Our Air” award on stage last year.
Increasingly, I am told, she will step out solo. The King sees his daughter-in-law as a great asset to the monarchy and with fewer working royals her public profile will receive a boost.
Last week alone she carried out several solo engagements in the UK.
She will focus more and more on her role as a “children’s champion” and her early years projects.
But it means William too will spread his wings.
So often when he is accompanied by his wife the press focus on her and not on the issues he wants to raise,
“It can be all about what the princess wears as far as the media is concerned, which means some of the big issues get ignored,” said a source. “When he is on his own, the coverage tends to be about the issues he is trying to highlight.”
This may or may not be the reason for Kate not going to Singapore – but it is part of it.
William and Kate, since Harry and Meghan’s decision to pull out of royal life, have had more responsibilities loaded on them since stepping up to be The Prince and Princess of Wales.
They also made a promise – and won agreement from The King – that they still want to prioritize the needs and expectations of their three children too. Both want to do the school run and be hands-on parents.
For William, his visit to America was hugely important.
Being in the Big Apple for the week of the United Nations General Assembly during Climate Week to announce the finalists of this year’s Earthshot Prize for him was essential.
Now in its third year Earthshot is gaining momentum.
William has big global ambitions for the prize, I am told, that has already been dubbed by some this week as the “Nobel prize for the environment.”
As he said on landing – he knows America is the home of big ideas and ingenuity and wanted to be in NY this week to be amongst the movers and shakers moving the needle on climate globally
Those close to him said he loved being in New York, and his highlight was his run around Central Park, without anyone noticing him.
The love and affection shown by the American people last September at the time of the Queen’s death meant a lot to him. “It will stay with him forever,” a senior source said.
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