Earth Day falls on April 22, but the Earth really needs to be protected every day of the year. And while we can all do our individual parts, it’s nice when people with a little more power are able to exercise that to benefit the world we live in. The royal family members have been advocating for the planet for years — way before it was even popular to do so. Queen Elizabeth and King Charles both instilled a respect for nature and the environment in their children, and that’s trickled down to the youngest generation. They all do their part to give back.
From planting trees to saving animals to donating money to sustainability projects, the royals talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to saving the Earth. Here are some of the major ways they’ve supported environmental causes over the years. Perhaps it’ll give us all a little more inspo this Earth Day and year-round.
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Queen Elizabeth spoke at a climate change conference.
In 2021, the Queen gave a speech at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference where she took more of a stand than she usually did on so-called political issues. She called on attendees to “recognize that the time for words has now moved to the time for action,” adding, “We are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.”
Prince Philip saved an Australian species from extinction.
The late Queen’s husband Prince Philip was a man of action over words. According to The Telegraph, in the ’60s he traveled to Australia to lobby for wildlife protection in Western Australia. He successfully campaigned for a proposed housing development to instead become a nature sanctuary. In doing so, he ensured the survival of the Gilbert’s potoroo marsupial, which was previously thought to have been extinct. It ended up flourishing in the protected land.
Prince Philip was president of the World Wildlife Fund.
Philip helped many animal species in his lifetime through his work with the World Wildlife Fund. According to the WWF’s website, he was president of the UK foundation from its inception in 1961 until 1982 and also served as president of the international branch from 1981 until 1996.
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King Charles invested in solar panels.
The royal homes tend to be historical, having housed various members of the royal family for generations. But King Charles cares more about the environment than perfectly preserving his family’s palaces. In 2012, The Standard reported that he’d gotten permission to install solar panels on the 180-year-old Clarence House roof. Who knows, maybe Buckingham Palace is next.
Charles is an organic farmer.
In addition to renewable energy, Charles is passionate about sustainable food production and gardening. His Highgrove House estate in Gloucestershire has a working organic garden that supplies produce like apples and pears for the public to enjoy. Delicious and sustainable.
Prince William and Kate Middleton drive an electric car.
William and Kate are carrying on the royal family’s passion for the environment. The Prince and Princess of Wales own an electric car, according to Express, and they even installed a charging port at Kensington Palace. Their Audi doesn’t emit carbon dioxide when it drives, so it causes less pollution.
The royal family supports the bees.
Bees are a huge part of a healthy ecosystem as they pollinate important plants. The royals know this, and not only do they have bee hives at several of their homes (including Buckingham Palace), but Kate Middleton even knows how to do hive upkeep. She looks great in this beekeeper suit.
The royals plant a ton of trees.
Deforestation is a real issue, and many members of the royal family have given back over the years by planting new trees. One of Queen Elizabeth’s initiatives was The Queen’s Green Canopy which aimed to plant 3 million new trees. It’s something Charles kept his mother’s word on, even after she died. He posted on Instagram that the final tree of the 3 million was planted in April 2023.
The Duchy of Cornwall prioritizes sustainability.
The Duchy of Cornwall — Prince William’s collection of real estate and agricultural holdings — generates a lot of money for his family. But he’s making sure it gives back to the environment, too. His Duchy Nursery uses local, sustainable produce at its restaurant and plant-based packaging for its tasty treats.
The Cambridge children know how to protect the Earth.
Passing down a love of the environment is a royal tradition, and William and Kate are making sure that their kids know how to do their part. According to People magazine, William said that his kids love nature and are learning how “not to overuse water, being careful with our resources, turning off light switches, things like that, which was instilled in me growing up.”
Prince George picks up trash.
People also reported that Prince George had helped out at school by picking up trash. William said that his son was frustrated to see that the next day there was litter all over again. George is learning young that the battle to protect our environment is just that — a battle. But he seems up for the challenge even at a young age.
Princess Charlotte helped save butterflies.
The BBC reported that Princess Charlotte took part in the Big Butterfly Count initiative from Save Butterflies in 2021. The survey is designed to track how many of the important insects are in certain areas of the UK. We really do love seeing Will and Kate’s kids get involved in these sustainability issues.
Prince William's Earthshot Prize gives money to sustainability projects.
In 2020, Prince William launched the Earthshot Awardss and Earthshot Prize to honor (and fund) people and projects that are combatting climate change. Every year, William gives out five $1 million prizes to leaders in the sustainability space to further their efforts. It’s an impressive concept and initiative.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are working on carbon emissions.
In 2021, Meghan and Harry pledged on their Archwell Foundation website to become net zero on their carbon emissions by 2030. That means that all their actions that create carbon dioxide will be offset in other ways to minimize the impact on the environment. Although we haven’t seen an update, we’re hoping for one soon.
Prince Harry protects African parks and wildlife.
Prince Harry was passionate about saving the environment when he was still a working royal, and he’s continued that even after moving to the US. Since 2016, Harry has worked with African Parks on elephant conservation efforts, according to People. In 2023, he was promoted to a member of the board of directors so he can continue his efforts on a larger scale.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Prince William supports the Tusk Conservation Awards
Africa is a place close to both Harry and William’s hearts, because their mother loved it as well. Like his brother, William has done his fair share of charity work in the continent. And every year he gives out the The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa at the Tusk Awards.
King Charles isn't rushing his paper money rollout.
Now that he’s king, the UK will roll out new paper banknotes with Charles’ face on them. But he didn’t insist that this change happen immediately. Instead, the Bank of England reported that at the king’s guidance, new notes will only be printed when the old ones are too worn to stay in use. So people in England will still be seeing the late Queen’s face on their money for quite a while.
