Future King channels Sir David Attenborough’s passion with powerful French speech to world leaders – as he admits watching new ocean documentary left him ‘angry, sad and frustrated’
Prince William delivered an emotional rallying cry to save the world’s dying oceans yesterday, warning that marine life is “diminishing before our eyes” in a landmark speech that left world leaders in no doubt about the urgency of the crisis.
The Prince of Wales, 42, took centre stage at Monaco’s prestigious Blue Economy and Finance Forum on Sunday, joining French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Prince Albert II of Monaco in an unprecedented gathering of global power brokers.
In a powerful display of his growing international stature, William – who impressed delegates by delivering his opening and closing remarks in fluent French – painted a devastating picture of oceans under siege from rising temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing.
“What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes,” the future King told an audience of 1,800 at the Grimaldi Forum, his voice heavy with emotion. “Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking.”
The Prince’s stark warning comes as shocking new figures reveal that only 3% of the world’s oceans are currently protected – a fraction of the 30% target that must be met by 2030 to prevent ecological catastrophe.
‘I Got Angry, Then Sad, Then Frustrated’
In a remarkably candid admission, William revealed how Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary ‘Ocean‘ had left him emotionally overwhelmed, experiencing “every single range of emotions” while watching the 99-year-old broadcaster’s latest environmental masterpiece.
“I was very emotional after watching it. I got angry, then I got sad, then I got frustrated, then I got happy,” the Prince confessed, adding that the film presented “the most compelling argument for immediate action I have ever seen.”
The documentary, released to coincide with World Oceans Day, shows devastating footage of bottom trawling – where fishing boats drag massive nets across the seabed – transforming vibrant underwater forests into lifeless wastelands.
William, who wore a navy suit paired with a recycled sustainable tie from Wilmok, revealed he was “working out how to show my children” the hard-hitting documentary, highlighting his determination to ensure Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, understand the environmental challenges their generation will inherit.
Star-Studded Blue Carpet Summit
The high-profile event saw world leaders walk a symbolic blue carpet as they arrived at the forum, with William warmly greeting President Macron ahead of the French leader’s upcoming state visit to Windsor Castle in July.
The Prince’s appearance marks a significant moment in his evolution as a global statesman, stepping up his international duties as King Charles continues his cancer treatment.
Kensington Palace described the speech as a “landmark intervention,” with a spokesman declaring: “There should be no doubt that this speech is The Prince of Wales calling for action to save our oceans now.
Earthshot Heroes Unite
William was joined by several winners and finalists from his prestigious Earthshot Prize, including:
- Coral Vita (2021 winner): Pioneering coral reef restoration by growing coral on land before replanting in oceans
- WildAid (2023 winner): Scaling marine enforcement to end illegal fishing
- Great Bubble Barrier (2022 finalist): Intercepting plastic waste before it reaches the ocean
- Coast 4C (2024 finalist): Connecting coastal agriculture investment with conservation
The Prince’s decade-long environmental crusade through the Earthshot Prize will next take him to Rio de Janeiro, as he continues to spotlight practical solutions to the planet’s most pressing challenges.
‘Think Big’ Battle Cry
Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions,” William urged delegates. “Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance.”
The Prince hammered home the life-or-death stakes, reminding leaders that healthy oceans generate half of the world’s oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than three billion people.
“We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive,” he declared. “But there remains time to turn this tide.”
Sir David’s Final Warning
The summit comes after William’s emotional conversation with Sir David Attenborough at the Royal Festival Hall in May, where the veteran broadcaster issued what many fear could be one of his final environmental warnings.
If this film does anything, if it just shifts public awareness, it will be very, very important,” Sir David told the Prince. “I can only hope that people who see it will recognise that something must be done before we destroy this great treasure.”
William ended his Monaco speech by quoting his natural history hero: “For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: ‘If we save the sea, we save our world.’
$900 Billion Funding Crisis
The forum addressed the staggering $900 billion funding gap needed for ocean conservation by 2030, with the Prince using his platform to drive investment into what experts are calling the “blue economy.”
The event served as a crucial precursor to the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Nice from June 9-13, where 70 heads of state will gather to tackle what the UN has declared an ocean “emergency.
William’s passionate intervention positions him at the forefront of the global environmental movement, following in the footsteps of his father King Charles while carving out his own distinctive approach to climate advocacy.
As one forum delegate noted: “The Prince isn’t just talking about change – he’s demanding it. This was William at his most powerful, using every ounce of his royal influence to save our seas.
The clock is ticking. With just five years left to meet the 2030 targets, Prince William’s Monaco mission has sent an unmistakable message to world leaders: the time for half-measures is over. Our oceans – and our future – depend on action now.
Image credit: Prince of Wales in Normandy 2024 by European Union, taken on 6 June 2024 at the D‑Day commemorations in Normandy, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license
