Another royal documentary! Prince William will follow in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Queen Camilla with the release of The Earthshot Report….see more

Prince William has toured the world with the Earthshot Prize.

From Cape Town to Singapore, the Prince of Wales’s flagship project, which celebrates the innovators finding solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental problems, has been championed by Hollywood legends (Hello, Cate Blanchett), political leaders (think former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern), and international supermodels (take a bow, Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow).

So starry is the support for the Earthshot Prize, that the annual awards ceremony has been dubbed ‘The Green Oscars’.

Now, Prince William will offer a behind the scenes insight into the project with a newly announced documentary, The Earthshot Report.

Set to Set to air on BBC One and iPlayer at 5pm GMT on 15 December – and, for those watching Stateside, on PBS at 8pm ET on 18 December – the documentary will feature a special introduction from the Prince of Wales.

The Earthshot report will explore the inspiring stories of sustainability innovators, from the Western United States to Ecuador, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Current and former Earthshot finalists and winners, including Notpla, Amazon Sacred Headwaters, Restor, and Mukuru Clean Stoves, will share their insights in exclusive interviews.

‘At a time when there is so much pessimism about the environment, The Earthshot Report is the dose of urgent optimism we need,’ said Hannah Jones, CEO of the Prize.

Among the more personal journeys explored in the documentary, audiences are also set to learn about the five central goals of the scheme, the ‘Earthshots’: Fix Our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature, Build A Waste-Free World, Revive Our Oceans, and Clean Our Air.

The host? None other than Hannah Waddingham.

Prince William has often turned to the Emmy-winning chanteuse for some showbiz sparkle at Earthshot events. In 2023, she played master of ceremonies at the Earthshot Awards in Singapore.

Joining the Prince of Wales to hand out the winners’ prizes (which include a hefty £1 million), she donned a dazzling black ball gown and emerald sash.

Founded by the Prince of Wales in 2020, the Earthshot Prize has been one of the royal heir’s most treasured projects.

His work on the scheme, which was inspired by President John F Kennedy’s famous ‘Moonshot’, has took the Prince to Cape Town this November, and has no doubt been a boon for Prince William, during a year he has described as the most difficult of his life.

Amid the health battles faced by Catherine, Princess of Wales, and King Charles, Prince William has suggested that his family will be re-thinking their modus operandi when it comes to royal engagements in the following months.

Speaking to Sky News, the 42-year-old explained that he wants to approach his duties ‘with maybe a smaller R in the royal’.

Many have read this as the Prince taking a more personal approach to his public service, focusing on activism and projects that mean the most to him personally – like, for example, the Earthshot Prize.

When asked about his new outlook to royal tours, Prince William said: ‘I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.

‘And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.’

He elaborated: ‘It’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.

‘And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do.

It helps impact people’s lives.

And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.’

This focus on empathy has been seconded by Catherine, Princess of Wales, as she makes her return to royal duties following her chemotherapy treatment this year.

Ahead of her annual ‘Together At Christmas’ carol service, the mother-of-three wrote a highly personal letter, in which she spoke of the importance of love and empathy during the ‘darkest times’.

‘Above all else,’ she wrote of the Christmas story, ‘it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.

The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others.

Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope.’

She added: ‘It is this love which is the greatest gift we can receive.

Not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives.

Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times.’

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has also spoken out on the importance of activism in recent months.

Alongside Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, the Prince set up the Archewell Foundation, named in honour of the couple’s eldest son Prince Archie.

Founded with the intention to ‘show up, do good’, the charity has donated millions of dollars to international causes across its four years, including US newspaper distribution and the support of women living in Afghanistan.

Speaking ahead of his 40th birthday, the Duke of Sussex told the BBC that ‘Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.’

Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working on documentaries of their own.

The couple have served as executive producers on POLO, which will be released by Netflix on 10 December.

The documentary, which promises ‘an unprecedented glimpse into the dedication and skill required to compete at the sport’s highest level’, comes at a pivotal moment for Harry and Meghan’s media empire: their most recent series, Heart of Invictus, failed to capitalise on the success of 2022’s Harry & Meghan, and there is still no sign of the Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming cooking show for the streaming giant.