Princess Kate Confirmed to Join Prince William at Earthshot Prize in Mumbai
In a last-minute confirmation, Kensington Palace announced Princess Kate's attendance at the ceremony this year.
The months-long speculation has been right all along. After taking a break over the past few years owing to her health struggles, Princess Catherine will finally return to the Earthshot Awards with Prince William in Mumbai, India, this week. Kensington Palace confirmed the news one day before the Waleses would arrive in the country.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will be in Mumbai for three days and will naturally have a hectic schedule as they look to spend time with communities across the bustling city. The planned engagements will span sectors and initiatives, from urban transport and responsible manufacturing to youth-led environmental action and India's globally acclaimed creative industries. However, it is unclear whether the princess will join the star-studded line-up of presenters at the prize ceremony on Tuesday.
While the news of Kate joining William on the trip may have come as a surprise, it actually makes absolute sense when one remembers that this year the Earthshot is introducing a children's category. And who would be a better fit to attend it than the 'Children's Princess' herself? During their gruelling three-day visit, the royal pair will attend the Children's Earthshot Prize at the Museum of Solutions. They will start with an engagement focused on gully cricket, a commonly used term for children playing cricket with their friends in the alleys and streets near their homes. The trip will wrap up with a visit to the heart of Mumbai's film industry, Dharma Productions, helmed by popular filmmaker and producer Karan Johar, who will be hosting the Earthshot ceremony this year.
The Princess of Wales' last-minute attendance will mark many milestones for the beloved royal. This will be her first appearance at the awards night since Boston 2022, and it will be her and William's first joint overseas trip since 2023, when the couple attended Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan's wedding to Princess Rajwa. Their three-day visit to India will also mark the pair's first trip to the country in a decade.
