Robert Irwin has praised Prince William's "authentic passion" after he and the future King were reunited on a fully electric London bus. The Dancing with the Stars winner and conservationist joined the future King and young Londoners for the trip on his way to host the annual Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly at the Guildhall.
"It's always wonderful catching up with Prince William," Robert told HELLO!: "The last time I saw him, he Facetimed me during Dancing with the Stars, to wish me well on that. I got to represent conservation to a stage I never thought I would be doing. So it was great.
"I'm always reminded of his leadership and his authentic passion. The Earthshot Prize would not be the success that it is without someone at the helm who really cares, and that is him. He cares very, very deeply, and you know someone with his platform that is just mobilized, creating as much change as possible, is fantastic."
Robert, who joined the future King for the 2024 awards ceremony in Cape Town and attended last year's Impact Assembly in London, added: "He's been doing this for a very long time, and I really think that he's seen firsthand what it is that the world needs, and I think it's just fantastic that he uses his platform to unite people.
© Getty Images"I think that is very, very important. And you can't fake passion, when you see it, it's undeniable. That's every interaction I have with him."
Robert confirmed he will be in Mumbai later this year for the sixth annual Earthshot Prize ceremony, and is still hoping it might head to Australia before it concludes in 2030.
© Getty Images"I would love Australia. I hope so. I have all of my fingers crossed," he said. "I think it would be fantastic, but for now, yeah, the sights are set on Mumbai. But Australia would welcome Prince William with open arms at any point."
Commenting on London's blistering heatwave, he said: "I mean, it's a reminder of what we're here for, isn't it?" He said of today’s event, which saw inspiring updates from many former Earthshot Prize winners and finalists: "It's very reassuring, the world is moving in the right direction, and you know, we have to take the wins, we really do.
© Getty Images"When you're working with the Earthshot Prize, something that is literally centered around solutions, instead of focusing on everything going wrong, let's reward those that are making it right, that are really working hard to make a difference, and that is so crucial, because for too long, environmentalism, I think, has felt like this big mountain that we just can't approach.
"But the Earthshot Prize shows us that if we work together, it's not just possible, but it's necessary."
