Prince William makes surprise appearance on Graham Norton Show to promote Earthshot Prize

First royal to appear on the chatshow, discusses family TV habits and film tastes

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The Prince of Wales has made a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show, becoming the first royal to appear on the BBC chatshow. In a pre-recorded special Earthshot prize edition, William promoted his environmental initiative, which will hold its annual awards ceremony in Mumbai, India, next month.

The Prince of Wales has braved the chatshow sofa, making a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show. In the pre-recorded show, to be aired on Friday on BBC One, William made a surprise appearance in a special Earthshot prize edition to promote his environmental initiative, which has an annual awards ceremony due to be staged in Mumbai, India, next month.

The prince revealed his family’s love for The Celebrity Traitors show, saying: “I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly.” Speaking of the EastEnders star Ross Kemp’s fear of being murdered by touch in plain sight on the Traitors show, he joked: “I saw Ross Kemp the day after the first episode and I couldn’t help but try – in the most appropriate way – to touch him to see what reaction I got from him. Turns out he was really jumpy!”

William also revealed he switches off through music and film. “I love getting immersed in deep-thinking films. I like action films too, but I like something a bit different. I’m a big fan of everything Christopher Nolan does. His films are fantastic – The Dark Knight series is psychologically dark and deep and I absolutely love that.”

Joining him on the sofa were the actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham, and the environmentalist Robert Irwin, who are all connected to the Earthshot prize which was founded by William in 2020 to recognise and reward issues and ideas to help save the planet. William told Norton and the other guests about the origins of the prize and its role in identifying and supporting innovators around the world. He said: “For many years I was hearing stories about environment issues, and one thing that struck me was the negativity and doom, which got me down. “I thought we could do something more powerful and more optimistic and the idea of an awards’ ceremony came about and we could talk about urgency and optimism together. “It’s all about getting excited.”

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The appearance gives a high-profile platform to the Earthshot Prize, underscoring the royal family’s engagement with environmental issues.
  • It offers a rare glimpse into the personal life of a senior royal, showing how he balances public duties with family.
  • The show’s reach could boost awareness of the Earthshot awards ceremony in Mumbai next month.

Background

The Earthshot Prize was founded by Prince William in 2020 to recognize and scale innovative solutions to environmental problems. The prize has annual awards ceremonies that rotate globally; this year’s event is scheduled for Mumbai, India. William has previously used media appearances to promote the prize, but this marks his first time on a talk show like The Graham Norton Show.

Key Perspectives

The Public: Many viewers enjoy seeing a relaxed, humorous side of the royal family, which can humanize the monarchy. Environmental Advocates: The Earthshot Prize’s visibility benefits from William’s media appearances, potentially attracting more nominations and funding. Critics/Skeptics: Some may view royal media appearances as a distraction from more direct political action on climate change.

What to Watch

  • The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Mumbai, scheduled for next month, and the resulting media coverage.
  • Public and media reaction to William’s appearance on the show, and whether it shifts perceptions of his environmental advocacy.
  • Potential future talk show appearances by other senior royals.

Sources

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim
  1. SupportedPrince William made a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show to promote the Earthshot Prize.UK news | The Guardian: “The Prince of Wales has braved the chatshow sofa, making a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show. In the pre-recorded show, to be aired on Friday on BBC One, William made a surprise appearance in a special Earthshot prize edition to promote his environmental initiative”
  2. SupportedWilliam was the first royal to appear on the chatshow.UK news | The Guardian: “William, the first royal to appear on the chatshow, also revealed he switches off through music and film.”
  3. SupportedWilliam discussed his family’s television habits and his film tastes.UK news | The Guardian: “The prince revealed his family’s love for The Celebrity Traitors show, saying: “I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly.””
  4. SupportedThe show was a pre-recorded Earthshot special due to air on Friday on BBC One.UK news | The Guardian: “In the pre-recorded show, to be aired on Friday on BBC One, William made a surprise appearance in a special Earthshot prize edition”
  5. SupportedThe Earthshot awards ceremony was due to be held in Mumbai, India, next month.UK news | The Guardian: “which has an annual awards ceremony due to be staged in Mumbai, India, next month.”
  6. SupportedWilliam said, “I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly.”UK news | The Guardian: “The prince revealed his family’s love for The Celebrity Traitors show, saying: “I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly.””
  7. SupportedWilliam joked that he tried touching Ross Kemp after the first episode to see his reaction, and that Kemp was jumpy.UK news | The Guardian: ““I saw Ross Kemp the day after the first episode and I couldn’t help but try – in the most appropriate way – to touch him to see what reaction I got from him. Turns out he was really jumpy!””
  8. SupportedWilliam said he loves deep-thinking films, likes action films, and is a fan of Christopher Nolan’s work.UK news | The Guardian: ““I love getting immersed in deep-thinking films. I like action films too, but I like something a bit different. I’m a big fan of everything Christopher Nolan does.””
  9. SupportedCate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin joined William on the sofa and were connected to the Earthshot Prize.UK news | The Guardian: “Joining him on the sofa were the actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham, and the environmentalist Robert Irwin, who are all connected to the Earthshot prize”
  10. SupportedThe Earthshot Prize was founded by William in 2020 to recognise and reward issues and ideas to help save the planet.UK news | The Guardian: “the Earthshot prize which was founded by William in 2020 to recognise and reward issues and ideas to help save the planet.”
  11. SupportedWilliam said the prize idea came from wanting a more powerful and optimistic response to environmental issues and that it was about getting excited.UK news | The Guardian: ““For many years I was hearing stories about environment issues, and one thing that struck me was the negativity and doom, which got me down. “I thought we could do something more powerful and more optimistic and the idea of an awards’ ceremony came about and we could talk about urgency and optimism together.””

Zotpaper

Written by Rex Doyle on the World desk. Claims checked by Ines Fairley, verification. Read for legal risk by Marcus Hale, legal. Edited by Angus Burke, chief sub.

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