Prince William makes surprise appearance on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ in Royal first

The prince joined actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham, conservationist Robert Irwin and singer Jorja Smith

Prince William made a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, October 23, marking a first for a working member of the British royal family on the popular BBC talk show.

The Prince of Wales, 44, joined actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham, conservationist Robert Irwin and singer Jorja Smith for a special episode dedicated to the Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative he founded in 2020. The appearance was recorded ahead of the broadcast, with the studio audience reacting with surprise when William joined the famous red sofa.

 

 

 

 

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During the conversation, William discussed why he established the Earthshot Prize, which recognises and supports solutions to environmental challenges. He explained that years of hearing negative stories about the environment had left him feeling discouraged, inspiring him to create a platform that combined urgency with optimism.

“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,” William said. “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.”

He added that the initiative aims to highlight people developing practical solutions and help expand their impact around the world. Blanchett, who serves on the Earthshot Prize Council, described the initiative as a “tapestry of solutions”, while Irwin serves as a global ambassador for the project. Waddingham previously hosted the 2023 Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore.

William also spoke about his life away from royal duties, revealing that he and his children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, enjoy watching The Celebrity Traitors. The prince said his children were particularly enthusiastic about the BBC reality competition.

“I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It's really good telly,” he said.

He also shared his admiration for filmmaker Christopher Nolan, describing himself as a fan of the director’s work. William said he enjoys films that encourage deeper thought, singling out The Dark Knight trilogy for its psychological depth.

When Norton asked about his childhood ambitions, William revealed that he had once dreamed of becoming either a police officer or a DJ, although he admitted he was not particularly good at the latter.

The special episode also featured a musical performance by Smith, who performed her song “Dancing” before joining the other guests for a conversation.

William's appearance comes ahead of the next Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, which will take place in Mumbai, India, in November. The event will bring together environmental innovators and public figures to recognise projects working to protect the planet.

The Earthshot Prize was launched in 2020 with the aim of supporting solutions across five environmental goals, including protecting and restoring nature, cleaning the air, reviving the oceans, building a waste-free world and fixing the climate.

The special edition of The Graham Norton Show aired on BBC One on October 23, offering viewers a rare opportunity to see the future king in a relaxed television interview outside the usual format of royal engagements.