Prince William Shares Touching Tribute After a Sudden Personal Loss: 'I Am So Sad'
Following Iain Douglas-Hamilton's passing, William offered heartfelt condolences, honoring his late friend's lifelong dedication to protecting Africa's elephants.
Outside of his royal duties, Prince William is a passionate environmentalist who uses his voice to champion wildlife literacy. As patron of the Tusk Trust, a leading animal conservation charity in Africa, he met zoologist and fellow conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, forming a close bond through their shared commitment to protecting wildlife. Following Douglas-Hamilton's passing at the age of 83 on December 8, William offered heartfelt condolences on Instagram, honoring his late friend's lifelong dedication to protecting Africa's elephants.
In a statement posted on his Instagram story, William said, "I am so sad to hear of the passing of Iain Douglas-Hamilton, a man who dedicated his life to conservation, and whose life's work leaves a lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants." Sharing his heartfelt condolences, he added, "The memories of spending time in Africa with him will remain with me forever. My thoughts go out to Iain's family, especially his wife Oria and children Saba and Dudu. W."
Douglas-Hamilton was one of the world's most celebrated elephant researchers, with a career spanning several decades across East Africa. His early research was among the first to reveal the extent of poaching and its threat to elephants.
The Prince of Wales has made environmental conservation a key part of his public work, following the footsteps of his father, King Charles. He became friends with Douglas-Hamilton through years of working together in Africa, with charities like Save the Elephants and Tusk. He has often spoken fondly of his early experiences on the continent, learning under conservation leaders like Douglas-Hamilton, which helped him understand climate-related challenges and the importance of protecting wildlife. His passion led him to launch the United for Wildlife initiative in 2013 following the birth of Prince George.
In recognition of his significant contributions to wildlife conservation, Douglas-Hamilton was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by William during a 2015 Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The honor acknowledged his decades of work on elephant conservation, including pioneering research, founding Save the Elephants in 1993, and campaigning against poaching and the ivory trade. Additionally, he also holds the Order of the Golden Ark in 1988, an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992, and the Lilly Medal in 2010. He served as an ambassador for Tusk, collaborating with the Prince for over a decade.
After his passing, Save the Elephants, the charity he founded in 1993, said in a statement, "It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton, renowned Scottish zoologist and founder & president of Save the Elephants. Iain passed away last night in Nairobi at age 83. A pioneering force in elephant conservation, Iain revolutionized our understanding of African elephants through his ground-breaking research."
