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 slams space tourists as William Shatner takes all-expenses-paid trip into space
(Image credit: Getty)

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 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. 

Blue Origin vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers (L) walks with Star Trek actor William Shatner to a media availability on the landing pad of Blue Origin’s New Shepard after they flew into space on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas.

Blue Origin vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers and William Shatner after they flew in space on Wednesday 

(Image credit: Getty)

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. 

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.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the "Our Planet" global premiere at Natural History Museum on April 04, 2019 in London, England. (

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the "Our Planet" global premiere at Natural History Museum on April 04, 2019 in London, England.

(Image credit: Getty)

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. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

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.