Prince William's witty take on swimming with sharks

Prince William kicked off day two of his South Africa visit with a scenic nature walk at Signal Hill, where he engaged with rangers and conservationists about the critical importance of biodiversity. 

Just hours before delivering a landmark speech on nature, the Prince met young Australian environmentalist Robert Irwin, an Earthshot Prize Global Ambassador, and chatted with Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis about the area's stunning surf and the thrill of cage diving with sharks.

While William expressed fascination with the creatures of the deep, he seemed hesitant about diving in himself. 

When asked about the experience, he humorously replied, "On a boat, maybe, but not in the water," adding with a chuckle, "I see Great Whites on the TV and that’s enough!"

Later in the day, Prince William held a significant meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, marking a "follow-up" to the state visit Ramaphosa made to the UK in 2022. 

Joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and South Africa’s counterpart Ronald Lamola, the discussions underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration between the two nations.

William also participated in Earthshot+, a dynamic event focused on enhancing the impact of the Earthshot Prize.

This speech marks the beginning of a two-day summit for United for Wildlife, his umbrella organization dedicated to combating the illegal trafficking of animals, reinforcing his commitment to preserving the planet's precious biodiversity.