Prince William to Deliver Landmark Ocean Speech in Monaco on World Oceans Day
This weekend, Prince William will travel to the South of France to deliver what his team calls a “landmark speech” in Monaco on World Oceans Day, urging the world to take immediate, united action to protect and restore the planet’s oceans.
Speaking at the prestigious Blue Economy and Finance Forum, the Prince will address an audience of environmental leaders, investors, and policymakers as the founder of the Earthshot Prize—an initiative dedicated to identifying and funding bold solutions to the planet’s climate crisis. The forum also serves as the prelude to next week’s UN Oceans Conference in Nice.
“The Prince of Wales feels passionately about action being taken to protect and restore our oceans,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson said. “Tomorrow, he’s going to be calling for swift, immediate global action. The time is now.”
Oceans in Crisis
With ocean temperatures rising, pollution mounting, and overfishing threatening ecosystems, the Prince’s speech comes at a pivotal time. The weekend’s events will explore the oceans’ critical role in global trade, food security, and sustainable energy.
Hosted at Monaco’s iconic Grimaldi Forum, the gathering will also feature Prince Albert II of Monaco, a long-time champion of marine conservation.
“This event will be more than a forum,” Prince Albert said. “It’s a unique opportunity to unite decision-makers, finance professionals, philanthropists, NGOs, and private sector players to turn ambition into action.”
Building Momentum and Global Partnerships
Prince William’s presence underscores his growing role as a global environmental statesman. His work builds upon the legacy of his father, King Charles III, long known for elevating environmental issues.
Last month, the Prince announced the latest winners of the Earthshot Prize in Cape Town. This year’s forum offers him a platform to reinforce the message that solutions to ocean degradation not only exist—but are worth investing in.
He draws inspiration from Sir David Attenborough, whose new film Oceans premiered recently. In it, the legendary broadcaster declares, “The most important place on Earth is not on land but at sea.” The film emphasizes that our oceans are at a crossroads—and need urgent global attention.
Turning Capital into Conservation
Among those attending the forum is Sam Teicher, co-founder and Chief Reef Officer of CoralVita, which won the inaugural Earthshot Prize in 2021 for its innovative coral restoration methods.
“I have a job that shouldn’t exist,” Teicher often says when describing his mission. “But we’re here to harness capitalism for good.”
CoralVita’s efforts recently received a major boost: the organization has secured £6 million ($8.1 million) in funding from Builders Vision—a philanthropic investment group led by Lukas Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune. This support will allow CoralVita to scale up reef restoration efforts and accelerate the revival of marine biodiversity.
Builders Vision will now also support the Earthshot Prize itself, forming a new partnership that exemplifies how Prince William is connecting innovators with capital to drive systemic change.
Royal Influence, Real Impact
While the forum is a public platform, Prince William will also host private discussions with experts and investors. The strategy reflects his pragmatic use of royal influence—often referred to as “soft power”—to attract serious attention and funding for ocean conservation.
Teicher credits the Prince for elevating environmental ventures like CoralVita into serious investment territory.
“He helps open doors to people who wouldn’t normally think ocean restoration is investable—or even essential,” he said. “We’re looking for long-haul partners, not short-term returns.”
A New Kind of Royal Leadership
As Prince William carves his own path, his approach is becoming clearer: combining visionary environmental leadership with practical investment matchmaking. In doing so, he’s placing oceans—not traditionally at the center of public concern—on the global agenda.
By working across borders, sectors, and ideologies, the Prince of Wales is demonstrating that solutions to our greatest ecological challenges don’t just need royal speeches—they need royal action.
