Prince William slams space tourists as William Shatner takes all-expenses-paid trip into space
Prince William has emphasized the importance of focusing on the Earth rather than other planets
Prince William had some harsh words for the space tourism industry following William Shatner’s trip into space, urging entrepreneurs to focus on climate change and invest in the Earth instead.
- Prince William has urged entrepreneurs to invest in the Earth rather than other planets in response to the worsening climate crisis.
- The Duke of Cambridge's honest comments were made in light of William Shatner's free trip into space with Blue Origin on Wednesday.
- In other royal news, Buckingham Palace could be destroyed by floods, warn climate scientists.
Prince William has no time for space travel—and he's not afraid to admit it.
Speaking to BBC’s Newcast this week, the Duke of Cambridge shared his candid opinion on space tourism in light of the Canadian actor’s 10-minute-long journey into space on Wednesday. At 90, Shatner became the oldest person to take off from Earth in a rocket, surpassing the previous title holder of 82-year-old Wally Funk. The journey has garnered widespread attention from both the media and the public, with many astrophiles celebrating the exciting display of space technology.
However, not everyone is impressed with the high-profile cosmic voyage. Prince William has dismissed the hype surrounding the Star Trek alum’s trip, highlighting the importance of investing in our native planet rather than exploring foreign ones.
While Shatner did not pay for the flight—he traveled as a guest with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin—his ticket would have likely cost somewhere between $200,000 to $300,000.
Prince William implied that this money could be spent more wisely, explaining that we need to be “trying to repair the planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.” His statements come shortly after he issued an emotional climate change plea about the importance of protecting the environment, a cause he has championed with the launch of his historic Earthshot Prize.
“It would be an absolute disaster if [Prince] George is sat here talking (about the climate emergency),” he added.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Prince William also revealed he had "absolutely no interest" in going into space himself, adding that people must take into account the carbon footprint of rocket launches.
He went on to discuss his father and late grandfather’s efforts to combat the climate crisis, crediting Prince Charles in particular for addressing the issue at a time when it wasn't so topical. “He’s had a really rough ride on that,” William admitted. “He’s been proven to be well ahead of the curve.”
Prince Charles inherited his passion for the planet from his dad Prince Philip, prioritizing environmental advocacy as high on his list of priorities at an early stage in his career as a working royal. He has spoken about the issue numerous times, even delivering a passionate speech on sustainability at Highgrove earlier this year. He has also launched a conscious fashion collection with Net-a-Porter and opened a virtual climate change festival called It’s Time.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
From child stars who chose 'normal' jobs to screen icons who hid away, we look back at the celebrities who quit fame
Whether giving it up for good or just taking an extended break, some celebrities have been more than happy to ditch fame
By Jack Slater Published
-
Anne Hathaway’s handbag essential lip balm is on sale - and it'll revive chapped winter lips
Enriched with rose extracts, hyaluronic acid and shea butter, Anne Hathaway’s go-to lip balm is a game changer for treating chapped lips
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published