Prince William is visiting New York City, starting September 18, for a two-day excursion to promote the 2023 Earthshot Prize and announce the finalists for the ceremony.
The Prince of Wales will begin his initiative with a visit to Governors Island to learn about the Billion Oysters Project, which is listed as “an initiative which aims to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor with the help of students, volunteers, and restaurateurs,” as per a press release.
The Prince Of Wales Touches Down
This afternoon, the British royal touched down in the United States, arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey just outside of the city.
Upon arriving, his first remarks were: “It’s so good to be back in the United States. No one does optimism and ingenuity like the American people, so it’s only right we unveil this year’s Earthshot finalists in New York City.
“80 years ago, the world came together in this great city to find a new way, through the UN, to solve our shared challenges. I know our generation can take the bold action we need to make changes toward a healthy and sustainable world. The challenge may feel huge, but as John F Kennedy taught us, we rise to the challenge not because it is easy, but because it is hard. And vital.”
The Prince Kicks Off His Visit In Dramatic Style
Prince William kicked off his day in New York by boarding a boat to travel across the Hudson River with the Manhattan skyline in the background as the rains pelting the city earlier in the day finally let up.
After arriving via a commercial flight, the Prince of Wales took off straight to a hatchery center for the fledgling oysters on Governors Island with Pete Malinowski, co-founder and executive director of the Billion Oyster Project.
More on the Billion Oyster Project and Prince William’s association
As per their official release, the Billion Oyster Project “is a nonprofit organization on a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives.”
They aim to restore 1 billion oysters by 2023, and they’ve so far introduced 122 million across 19 acres of New York Harbor, with more than 11,000 students and 15,000 volunteers engaged so far.
As part of his climate awareness initiative, the foundation for the Earthshot Prize, Prince William will meet with a group of high school students who are volunteering with the project at their headquarters on Governors Island.
Where is Princess Kate?
The Princess of Wales, meanwhile, stayed behind in the UK for this jaunt and made an appearance at the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in Somerset on Monday.
The Poignant History Behind Prince William’s Visit
This is Prince William’s first visit to New York City since 2014, and his first time in the United States since November last year, when he visited Boston with Kate ahead of the annual Earthshot Prize ceremony.
This specific visit to New York was delayed from its original September 2022 date due to the tragic passing of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
