Prince William rocks a navy suit as he meets music legends at the Tusk Conservation Awards - and his beloved beard is longer than ever

Prince William rocked a navy go well with as he met with music legends on the 2024 Tusk Conservation Awards in London on Wednesday night.

The Prince of Wales, 42, appeared good as he greeted friends earlier than taking to the stage handy out all three awards on the Savoy Resort.

He was greeted by Tusk founder Charlie Mayhew as he shook arms with friends forward of presenting the awards and was sporting his fan-favourite beard, which has grown much more outstanding in latest weeks.

And he was helped by Rolling Stones icon Ronnie Wooden and Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, whom he met throughout a pre-wards reception.

Additionally current was Idris Elba, who himself has a complete host of royal connections: it was introduced in October that he can be showing in a documentary addressing knife crime alongside King Charles – and was Prince Harry’s wedding ceremony DJ in 2018.

Tusk ambassador Wooden, 77, beforehand offered a gorilla statue to boost funds for Tusk and Knopfler, 77, auctioned his guitars which raised £600,000 for the charity.

William stated there ‘is quite a lot of creativity right here’ and joked that they had sufficient to begin a band.

William stated: ‘My youngest is studying the drums that is why I spend my complete life with my fingers in my ears.’

Prince William rocked a navy go well with as he met with music legends on the 2024 Tusk Conservation Awards in London on Wednesday night

Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales talks with actor and activist Idris Elba

Ronnie additionally instructed him that the gorilla auctioned for Tusk was given again to him and now sits in his backyard.

Movie producer Sally Humphreys Wooden, 46, instructed William that she met his father the King final week at a BAFTA bash at Buckingham Palace.

And Knopfler, who was with spouse Kittie Aldridge, 62, stated he has 100 guitars left and hailed Christie’s for the public sale for Tusk earlier this yr.

William stated to the rock stars ‘thanks in your help.’

He additionally spoke to sponsors together with Land Rover and DHL about his Earthshot Prize in Cape City.

Listening to from Nick Maugham Household basis about conserving uncommon bongo (cor) antelopes, of which solely round 100 stay within the wild, William stated: ‘Individuals neglect how uncommon they’re.’

Listening to the organisation’s efforts William stated he was very ‘excited’ and hailed it as a ‘big conservation success.’

Talking about his Earthshot Prize he instructed friends: ‘We’ve got to scale it up and I am engaged on a couple of issues.’

William was additionally sporting his fan-favourite beard, which has grown much more outstanding in latest weeks

The prince pictured presenting the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa Award to winner Nomba Ganame (pictured left)

The Prince of Wales, 42, appeared good in a navy go well with as he arrived for the occasion on the Savoy Resort, beaming as he greeted friends

The Prince of Wales delivered a speech earlier than he introduced the winners of the occasion

William appeared in nice spirits as he shared a joke with Ronnie Wooden, whom he additionally met eventually yr’s awards

The Prince of Wales met with Wooden and Mark Knopfler forward of the ceremony for the twelfth annual Tusk Conservation Awards

Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa Winner Nomba Ganame (pictured) spoke to the attendees

Prince William has arrived on the 2024 Tusk Conservation Awards in London

The prince beamed as he offered the Tusk Award

The Prince of Wales appeared in good spirits at tonight’s occasion – particularly after assembly a bunch of music legends

William appeared in a cheery temper for the occasion on the Savoy Resort on Wednesday

Prince William, Prince of Wales presents the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award onstage

In a four-minute speech William warned ‘tonight is a reminder that our planet continues to face terrifying environmental issues’.

He hailed the award winners for reminding ‘us of the significance of residing at peace with nature’.

And talking of George, Charlotte and Louis, he stated ‘I would like my youngsters to dwell in a world the place swallows nonetheless migrate, gorillas nonetheless dwell within the cloud forests of Uganda and rhinos nonetheless roam the arid rangelands of Namibia.’

William additionally offered the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa to Nomba Gname, The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa to Edward Aruna and the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award to Claver Ntoyinkima.

The Tusk Conservation Awards are an annual occasion which recognises conservation leaders for his or her pioneering work defending wildlife and supporting communities throughout Africa. William is patron of the awards.

The awards first passed off greater than a decade in the past in 2013, due to the collaboration between the Prince of Wales and buyers, Ninety One.

The ceremony, which is held on the world-famous Savoy lodge this night, awarded three victors for his or her work within the area.

Talking in regards to the awards beforehand, William has stated: ‘These awards which imply a fantastic deal to me personally, play an enormous half in our mission to protect Africa’s valuable wildlife for its individuals.

The royal pictured presenting the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award Winner to Claver Ntoyinkima (pictured left)

Claver Ntoyinkima appeared delighted after he was given his award

The royal posed alongside The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa Winner Nomba Ganame, left, Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award Winner Claver Ntoyinkima, middle proper, and Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa Winner Edward Aruna

The prince spoke enthusiastically to occasion attendees

The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa was awarded to Edward Aruna (pictured)

Prince William, Prince of Wales talks with sponsors forward of the ceremony for twelfth annual Tusk Conservation Awards

His Royal Highness was joined by A-listers of the likes of Mark Knopfler and Ronnie and Sally Wooden forward of the ceremony, with whom he was noticed having an animated dialog

PRINCE WILLIAM’S SPEECH AT THE 2024 TUSK CONSERVATION AWARDS IN FULL

‘It’s an absolute pleasure to be right here tonight to rejoice The twelfth Tusk Conservation Awards.

‘As ever, the Tusk Awards shine a light-weight on a handful of the exceptional individuals who work on the frontline of conservation. I am positive you’ll all agree with me that the brief movies we now have simply watched superbly deliver to life the work of this yr’s winners.

‘Their extraordinary tales are ones of unwavering dedication to guard Africa’s pure world, even within the face of a number of challenges. Tonight is a reminder that our planet continues to face terrifying environmental issues from local weather change and habitat destruction to the exploitation of pure assets and an alarming downward pattern in world biodiversity.

‘Rainforests the scale of nations are disappearing. And a million species are liable to extinction largely as a consequence of human exercise. Now’s the time to help these globally that work to stop future generations from changing into disconnected from nature we should put money into the pure world round us and perceive the worth it has for us all, each now and sooner or later.

‘That’s the reason the perception and data of the award winners tonight is so essential. They need to information and encourage us all to drive change. They remind us of the significance of residing at peace with nature. ‘That is why it’s so essential that we do all the things in our energy to help the people who defend the pure world.

‘This has come into even sharper focus over the previous two years, following the homicide of Anton Mzimba in South Africa. Anton was assassinated in his house for doing his job defending the unbelievable biodiversity of his nation. And globally, 1400 rangers have been killed up to now decade. ‘The sobering Roll of Honour that we noticed earlier recognises the Rangers who misplaced their lives and serves as a reminder of the last word worth paid by too many on the frontline of conservation.

‘Just a few weeks in the past on the United for Wildlife World Summit, I used to be delighted to announce a brand new initiative that helps enhance welfare help for rangers by way of a collection of revolutionary measures, together with offering accident, medical and life insurance coverage, in addition to mentorship.

‘Developed by Tusk, in partnership with the Sport Rangers Affiliation of Africa, this scheme will go a good distance in recognising rangers’ essential contribution to safeguarding threatened species, habitats and native communities.

‘It is just by way of a collaborative method, underneath the steering of indigenous and native communities, that we will foster lasting and significant change. ‘I consider we’re the fortunate ones.

‘We dwell in a world wherein unbelievable wildlife exists and I would like that for the generations that comply with.

‘I would like my youngsters to dwell in a world the place swallows nonetheless migrate, gorillas nonetheless dwell within the cloud forests of Uganda and rhinos nonetheless roam the arid rangelands of Namibia.

‘It will likely be due to extraordinary leaders comparable to those who we’re celebrating immediately that this may occur. Effectively carried out, as soon as once more, to tonight’s winners. You give us all optimism for the way forward for our planet. I want you all a beautiful night.’

‘It’s vital that we recognise the dedication of those unsung heroes and the bravery of rangers risking their lives, day and night time, on conservation’s frontline. All of us owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.’

Final yr, the Prince of Wales additionally chatted to Wooden on the awards – telling the Rolling Stones star he would solely see them in live performance in the event that they introduced out Taylor Swift, of whom he is made no secret he’s a fan.

Each males are long-term supporters of the occasion’s organisers, Africa-based charity Tusk Belief.

After chatting with the longer term king eventually yr’s occasion, Wooden stated: ‘We have been speaking in regards to the tour and I stated ‘come on, you have to come out on tour’ and we have been speaking in regards to the new album and all the things. William stated [he would] if we might get Taylor Swift there.’

Guitarist Wooden instructed William that Swift had sung with Stones’ frontman Sir Mick Jagger and stated the prince replied, ‘I am there then.’

It comes a day after William marvelled at high-tech drones and tried his hand at firing a sniper’s rifle as spent the morning with the Welsh Guards in Salisbury.

William donned combats this morning when he hung out with the first Battalion Welsh Guards in his capability as colonel of the regiment – a ceremonial position he has held since December 2022.

Tuesday’s go to to the Salisbury Plain marks William’s second royal engagement in as many days, after he inaugurated a brand new environmental mission along with Oman’s Crown Prince in London yesterday.

The Prince of Wales, 42, appeared good in a navy go well with as he arrived for the occasion on the Savoy Resort, and beamed as he greeted friends

William was among the many high-flying friends attending the Tusk Conservation Awards 2024

For the previous two years, the Battalion has led a lot of historic ceremonial occasions – together with the funeral for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and as Trooping their Color for His Majesty’s first Birthday Parade final yr.

Moreover, the regiment has been finishing up abroad operations within the Falkland Islands and Oman.

However they’re now transitioning again to Discipline duties and William’s go to was designed to see how the officers have been coping with the change in tempo – significantly regrowing the regiment’s specialist weapons capabilities to bolster their work overseas and within the UK.

William was wearing combats and a beret as he arrived on the Salisbury Plain by helicopter, earlier than becoming a protecting vest and helmet – prepared for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp.

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