On the second day of his Cape Town visit, Prince William joined Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin, for a scenic nature walk up Signal Hill, ahead of his meeting with South Africa’s President.
Earlier this year, the Australian conservationist was named an Earthshot Ambassador, and he spoke with the Prince about carrying forward his father’s legacy.
Reflecting on their meeting, 20-year-old Robert shared, “The passion that the rangers and volunteers have here at Signal Hill is contagious. It’s impossible not to fall in love with this place. Prince William, myself, and everyone here have definitely fallen for Cape Town. It’s an amazing place, and the conservation efforts here truly fill me with hope.”
During the visit, 42-year-old Prince William also engaged with rangers and conservationists to discuss biodiversity’s vital role, leading up to a significant address he’s set to give at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase.
Robert expressed gratitude for William’s dedication to conservation, saying, “I loved talking with Prince William about the essential role of rangers. Conservation can be dangerous, and it’s uplifting to see William’s support in ensuring rangers have the resources they need. It’s a strong step forward. Protecting the environment means protecting people, too.”
Signal Hill, part of the iconic Table Mountain National Park, offers breathtaking views of Table Mountain, the cityscape, and the Atlantic Ocean, while showcasing the diverse flora of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site.
Known for its rare and endangered plant species, particularly the unique fynbos that make up 80% of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the area is celebrated as a biodiversity hotspot.
While speaking with rangers, who recently added a team of seven dogs to assist in their conservation work, William paused to greet Lia, a Dutch Shepherd taking a well-deserved rest.
Smiling, he remarked, “Take your time, it’s not a problem. She knows we’re not a threat, so she’s taking some zzzs while she can.” Lia’s handler confirmed that the dog was “very calm,” and William bent down, saying fondly, “Morning, sleepy, are we today?”
After the hike, William spoke with park rangers, firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers, and youth conservationists, discussing the park’s rich diversity of fauna and flora and their efforts to protect the environment for locals and visitors.
Meeting with Megan Taplin, Park Manager for Table Mountain National Park, and Geordin Hill-Lewis, Cape Town’s Mayor, he commented, “What a stunning spot to meet you guys in. Look at this—it’s amazing.” He also inquired about the impact of climate change on the park, asking, “Are you seeing more flash flooding?”
Prince William later met young people from Mayine e-Africa to discuss the importance of encouraging youth to explore the park. Bathandwa Diniso, the organization’s founder and teacher, shared her excitement after meeting the Prince.
“It was amazing,” she said. “It was refreshing. From the day I heard we were going to meet him, I was like, ‘Am I dreaming?’ I didn’t even sleep that night. He’s a cool guy, and he was genuinely interested, asking the kids the same questions I ask during my workshops.”
Diniso explained that her workshops promote emotional and mental well-being through a connection with nature, teaching children to “take care of nature so it can take care of you.”
Reflecting on the event, she added, “Not everyone gets to meet the Prince. We were told we’d have just a few minutes with him, but those minutes felt like the whole day.”
