William's hipster makeover! Fans swoon over Prince of Wales new look including £130 biodegradable trainers –  and some say its a nod to Kate

When Prince William took to the Earthshot awards ceremony in Cape Town yesterday evening, he debuted a new look.

Gone was the velvet suit and dicky bow that the Prince of Wales, 42, donned at last year’s ceremony, and in its place was an outfit reminiscent of one royal fans would expect to see on his wife, Kate Middleton.

Yesterday evening’s awards took place in a reusable eco ‘super dome’, with the ceremony commending five organisations chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees across 75 countries.

The royal father-of-three took to the green carpet alongside the likes of top models Winnie Harlow and Heidi Klum donning a vintage grey checked blazer and light blue shirt.

While the top half of the outfit looked like standard protocol for the royal, he paired it with an unusual choice – black trousers and a pair of £130 white biodegradable trainers from sustainable brand Purified Shoes.

It’s a style that Kate typically favours, with her wearing a similar outfit to a variety of events, including The Big Lunch on the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park last year, leading royal fans to question whether William has taken fashion inspiration from his wife.

Taking to X, one royal fan wrote: ‘Tell us you’re missing your wife without telling us you’re missing your wife,’ alongside a picture of Kate in a near-identical outfit to William’s.

Another added: ‘His new look is Just more relaxed, just cool…. And I think it’s a really good sign.’

The Prince of Wales debuted a new look at yesterday evening’s Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town

The royal father-of-three sported a grey vintage blazer with a light blue shirt at the fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards

A third added: ‘I like William’s outfit; I think it’s cool and different, but not quite right for the event. His velvet suit would have been better.’

‘More of this style please Prince William,’ another wrote. A fourth added: ‘I’m loving his new casual look at certain events, it’s very warming. He’s one amazing man, professional and compassionate, well loved by many.’

Mary Allen, from Natural Fiber Welding who make Purified Shoes said: ‘I had no idea Prince William was going to be wearing the shoes until just before we got here. It’s such a huge honour.

‘I was told he sourced them himself after learning of our product and it’s a massive boost for us.

‘Meeting all them finalists and being here is going to launch us onto massive things, we couldn’t be prouder.

‘Meeting Prince William today was a huge honour and you can sense the passion he has for this project.’

He looked ready for the evening ahead as he posed next to Earthshot Prize Ambassador and Host of Earthshot Week, Nomzamo Mbatha, and the son of the late Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin, who is a Australian conservationist.

The star-studded event saw model Winnie posing for snaps on the green carpet, donning an elegant chocolate brown ensemble.

William’s outfit this year was markedly different from his green velvet ensemble last year (pictured)

Royal fans have noticed that William’s outfit is similar to styles that Kate has worn (pictured: Kate at The Big Lunch on the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, May, 2023)

Royal fans took to X to share their thoughts on Prince William’s new look – and opinions were mixed

‘I was really honoured to get a royal letter asking if I could come here,’ she said.

‘I felt really honoured because I feel this should be something near and dear to everyone’s heart when it comes to taking care of Mother Earth, the planet. I always think it’s an honour. ‘

Talking of William’s involvement as a member of the Royal Family: ‘I think it’s important for everyone to get involved just especially when you have got eyes on you. You want to help focus a lot of eyes on things that are important to everyone.’

Model Heidi Klum looked effortlessly fashionable in a tangerine one-sleeved frock as she waved to photographers. 

Robert Irwin also looked in high spirits as he stepped out in a crisp tuxedo, while Nomzamo Mbatha looked glamorous in a strapless pastel yellow frock.

Canadian actress Nina Dobrev turned heads in a red bardot gown and shared a kiss with her fiancé Shaun White, who is an Olympic snowboarder.  

Former South African rugby player Tendai Mtawarira looked dapper as he beamed for cameras in a bow-tie. 

American actor and singer Billy Porter looked stunning in a monochrome patterned suit as he stepped onto the green carpet.

Prince William appeared cheerful as he posed next to Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha on the green carpet

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, is wearing a custom-made red velvet jacket and tulle skirt by Notting Hill designer Aimee Joyce, made from ‘dead stock’ material which would otherwise have been discarded (pictured with William) 

Prince William is pictured meeting television presenter Bonang Matheba on the green carpet yesterday evening

Prince William chatted with fellow guests inside the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Cape Town

Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape, and Tanzanian musician and dancer Diamond Platnumz were also photographed at the event.

The singer posed topless with a crucifix around his neck, sporting a red crocodile-print jacket with a pair of blue jeans and cowboy boots.

Diamond Platnumz  said he was delighted to ‘welcome William home’.

He said: ‘ It’s a privilege for me to be here because this is about us, it’s about protecting the planet, it’s about protecting the Earth. This is our home. So to be here among the invitees means a lot to me. I’m excited.’

Asked what it meant to have Prince William bring Earthshot to Africa he said: ‘We are happy that we have him home!’

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, wore a custom-made red velvet jacket and tulle skirt by Notting Hill designer Aimee Joyce, made from ‘dead stock’ material which would otherwise have been discarded. 

She said: ‘We’re so delighted to be here in Africa. What matters is reaching young people around the world.’

Prince William said the  Princess of Wales is ‘doing really well’ and that she and their children will be watching his Earthshot Prize environmental awards tonight.

The royal paid tribute to wife Kate on his trip to Cape Town, saying she had been ‘amazing’ during her tough year of cancer treatment.

‘She’s doing really well thanks. And…hopefully she is watching tonight. So cheering me on. She’s been she’s been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success,’ he said.

William was speaking to the BBC and Sky News as he prepared to host his fourth annual Earthshot Awards designed to highlight and scale up the best solutions on the planet to the current environmental crisis.

He said that he and his family, like so many, have conversations about trying to ‘do what they can’ at home.

William said: ‘Yeah, well, you know, every family tries to do what they can to sort of help with the environment. 

‘We go through all the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use and turning off lights when we leave the house and stuff like that, and making sure, which is sensible in what we do around the environment. I think every family has these conversations. You just try to do what you can. ‘

‘The Earthshot prize has got to be a bit more global than that. We are trying to do big scale ambition and big scale business to tackle some of the solutions.

‘But I brought the children along that journey and tonight I hope they are watching and they are proud of kind of what we are try to do here, which is to really galvanise that energy that enthusiasm to make real impact.’

He also spoke about the friendship bracelet he has been seen wearing bearing the word ‘Papa’ on, made for him by his daughter Princess Charlotte, which he has ‘promised’ not to lose.

‘Well, this is….a relic, if you like, from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for. She gave it to me when I came away. So I promised that wear it and try not to lose while I was out here,’ he said.

William was infectious in his enthusiasm as he spoke about Earthshot, which he has brought for the first time to Africa this year.

Five winners from across the world received £1 million in prize money to develop and scale up their solutions to environmental and climate change issues in a glitzy ceremony which was broadcast live across Africa and later on BBC iPlayer.

These winners include Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Keep IT Cool, Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative and the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO).

Ahead of announcing the winners, Prince William said: ‘I’ve been greatly looking forward to the time I can bring Earthshot to Africa. I love this continent. 

‘And spent many a year looking around exploring it. And just really thrilled to have the reception of the exuberance and energy that’s going to be in this room tonight around Earthshot in South Africa. ‘

Asked about how he could ensure his message lands in a sometimes tough political climate for the environment, he added: ‘I think everyone wants some hope and wants some optimism. I think the Earthshot encompasses urgent optimism. That’s what we’re here for.’

Africa is one of the least polluting continents in the world and yesterday suffers most from the adverse effects of climate change.

Prince William posed with the winners of the Earthshot Prize during the awards ceremony in Cape Town

The royal spoke with winners of the Earthshot Prize. He said all the finalists were ‘so close’, and ‘there were the little things that just got it over the line’

Five winners from across the world received £1 million in prize money to develop and scale up their solutions

The Prince of Wales poses for selfies with Heidi Klum, Nina Dobrev, Tobe Nwigwe and Tendai Mtawarira and Winnie Harlow

The prince said: ‘And as I think you will see tonight, the amount of youth from Africa who’ll be in here. 

‘They’ll be letting you know and letting everyone know that it matters to them. And without them, you know, the future is looking pretty bleak. So these are the game changers. 

‘These are the innovators. These are the inventors that are going to make the world a better place for us in the future.’

Speaking to the winners after they were announced, William said: ‘It was so close. All the finalists were so close! There were the little things that just got it over the line.’

Speaking to Clean Our Air winners Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), the prince said: ‘Having you guys living in Africa is such a big deal. Timing is crucial. It’s difficult turning rubbish, trash, into something sexy but you guys do it.

‘This will give you power, strength and guys, we will back you. I hope you felt the energy in the room. You’ve got hard yards ahead but we will support you. ‘

He also asked Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool: ‘What will you do with your million pounds? The farmers, the fishermen you are going to help, it’s amazing.’

The five Winners of the Prize cohort were selected by Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Council. 

The Earthshot Prize Council is chaired by The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees Chair, Dame Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement.

Members of The Earthshot Prize Council include: Prince William, Queen Rania Al Abdullah, José Andrés, Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Wanjira Mathai, Stella McCartney, Nemonte Nenquimo, Luisa Neubauer, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Naoko Yamazaki.

In addition to the one million pound prizes, each of the 15 Earthshot Prize Finalists will receive mentorship, resources and technical support through the year-long Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme.

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