Prince William met with the United Nations Secretary-General during a visit to New York in which he positioned himself as an international statesman, just as Prince Harry wants to do.
The Prince of Wales toured the Billion Oyster Project, donning waders and heading waist-deep into the Hudson River on his first day in the US.
Kate Middleton remains in the UK, meaning his US tour lacks the aesthetic fireworks of royal fashion, just days after Meghan Markle graced Prince Harry’s ‘Invincible Games’ This charm.
However, William’s promotion stateside is a little different than your average royal tour.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
While William may have had a less-than-stellar start in New York, it established him as an increasingly coveted role in royal circles – as an international statesman.
Following the oyster incident, the prince later visited United Nations headquarters to thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for supporting his Earth Challenge Prize climate competition, which helps fund innovative projects aimed at saving the planet.
A U.N. spokesman told Reuters the two discussed “the efforts needed to accelerate efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment.”
Prince William thus steps onto a global stage that Prince Harry has twice sought to occupy, first in 2021 when Meghan told reporters they had a “great meeting” with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at the United Nations “
Later, Prince Harry delivered a keynote speech on Nelson Mandela Day at the United Nations General Assembly on July 18, 2022, praising the former South African president’s “vision for a freer and more peaceful world.”
However, William went one better than Harry and Meghan by meeting the actual secretary-general rather than the deputy secretary-general ahead of the Earth Challenge Innovation Summit, where the finalists for this year’s Earth Challenge awards will be announced on Tuesday.
Bill Gates, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of US Ambassador to Australia John F. Kennedy, will also attend.
The prince was full of praise for the United States, saying: “It’s great to be back in the United States. No one is more optimistic and smarter than the American people, so it’s only natural that we unveil this year’s Earthshot finalists in New York.”
On climate change, he added: “The challenge may feel huge, but as John F. Kennedy taught us, we meet it not because it is easy, but because it is difficult. And crucial.”
Jack Royston is Weekly newspaperChief royal correspondent in London. You can find him on Twitter: @jackroyston and read his story newsweek’s Royals Facebook page.
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