The Duchess Brings Back Classic McQueen for Earthshot Prize Awards

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony at London's Alexandra Palace this evening.

William and Kate walked the 'green carpet' upon arrival.

Created by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, the Earthshot Prize has led a global search for the most effective and innovative solutions to the greatest environmental challenges facing the planet. The Earthshot Prize has been described as "a truly global event, anchored in London and connecting with finalists and winners all over the world".

A video shared by Victoria Murphy.

Prince William and Kate arrive for the @EarthshotPrize. She has recycled the Alexander McQueen dress she wore to a @BAFTA event in Los Angeles in 2011 pic.twitter.com/EaLDfQqY5V

— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) October 17, 2021

The initiative was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ programme in the 1960s, which united millions of people around the goal of reaching the Moon.

Kensington Palace said, "The Earthshot Prize aims to incentivise change and inspire collective action around our unique ability to innovate, problem solve and ultimately repair our planet over the next ten years. The Earthshot Prize is based on five ‘Earthshot’ goals: Protect and restore nature; Fix our climate; Clean our air; Revive our oceans; Build a waste free world. Five £1 million prizes will be awarded each year for the next 10 years, providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030." The Palace added the event is "celebration of the natural world, focussed on turning the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by celebrating the people and places driving change  - the first-ever Earthshot Prize Finalists and Winners."

As part of the effort, a Global Alliance was formed with an array of well-known organisations and foundations, including the UN Environment Programme, WWF, the Green Belt Movement, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, National Geographic, Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund, Rob & Melani Walton Foundation, and Mike Bloomberg's philanthropies.

Presenter Dame Emma Thompson on the green carpet.

People reports:

'Presenter Emma Thompson said she came in the outfit she wore when she last saw Prince William — her suit and the badge that signifies her damehood. 

"On our little notes they said 'Please do not buy anything new for this.' Can you imagine? The relief! So I got my dame suit that I wore when I went to the palace," she shared.

Thompson also showed off a ring that her husband Greg Wise "bought me for 30 bucks in New York" and her vegan sneakers. She spoke about the evening as an opportunity to help counter the hopelessness of issues like food waste, saying, "One of the solutions is going to be here and that makes me happy."

Emma Watson chose a layered white dress crafted from a number of pieces bought in Oxfam.

With the exception of the Duchess, the look of the evening goes to Joana Sanz (wife of Earthshot Council member and footballer Dani Alves). Joana looked like a Grecian goddess in a soft pink gown with draped shoulder detail.

Hosts Dermot O'Leary and Clara Amfo with performer Yemi Alade.

Guests were seated in Alexandra Palace's incredible East Court Theatre.

The scene inside.

The intricate set design depicts space and gold leaves representing the Earthshot logo.

More from Town & Country:

'During the ceremony, a short film recorded in the London Eye will be played, in which Prince William says, "We are alive in the most consequential time in human history... The actions we choose or choose not to take in the next ten years will determine the fate of the planet for the next thousand. A decade doesn’t seem long, but humankind has an outstanding record of being able to solve the unsolvable"

The ceremony will feature performances from artists Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, KSI and Yemi Alade, and Shawn Mendes. Coldplay’s performance, from outside of Alexandra Palace, will use energy powered by 60 cyclists.'

The Earthshot Prize Medal is inspired by the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph taken of Earth from the Moon by astronaut William Anders aboard Apollo 8 in 1968. It was selected to reflect the "beauty and fragility" of our planet.

Buckingham Palace turned green ahead of the event.

Prince Charles issued a heartfelt statement in support of Earthshot. A lifelong environmentalist and one of the earliest voices in the fight against climate change, Charles has devoted a significant portion of his life's work to protecting the planet. He wrote:

'I am very proud of my son, William, for his growing commitment to the environment and the bold ambition of the Earthshot Prize.

As a world, we need to come together to inspire, reimagine and build the sustainable future we so desperately need.

Over the coming decade, with future generations in mind, the Earthshot Prize, and its inspirational nominees, will help us find the innovative solutions.

In parallel, through my Terra Carta and Sustainable Markets Initiative, we will work to mobilise the trillions of dollars required to transition the global economy on to a more sustainable trajectory.'

The Duchess presented the award under the Protect and Restore Nature Category. Kate said: "Nature is vital to us all. A thriving natural world regulates our climate, nurtures our physical and mental health, and helps feed our families,' she told the 100-strong audience. For too long, we've neglected our wild spaces and now we're facing a number of tipping points. If we don't act now, we will permanently destabilize our planet and we will rob our children of the future they deserve. Our Earthshot Prize finalists show us, however, that we can by 2030 see the natural world growing, not shrinking, for the first time in centuries."

More from People:

'Announcing the winner, the Republic of Costa Rica, she said that country had showed "that deforestation can be turned around whilst growing your economy." Accepting it, President Carlos Quesada said, "We acknowledge that major conservation is a shared value. We accept this recognition with pride but humility. What we have achieved in this small country in central America can be done anywhere. We will continue recognizing nature as our most valuable asset advancing towards a carbon neutral in a nature positive world." 

Moments earlier, co-host Clara Amfo said they'd asked Prince William to "pull a few strings" and ask Kate to present an award. Introducing the Duchess of Cambridge, fellow co-host Dermot O'Leary said, "Thankfully he came up trumps – though I doubt this is what she had in mind when he mentioned date night."

When Kate met Emma :)

Great behind the scenes photo by @YuiMok of the Duchess of Cambridge chatting to Emma Thompson before walking out onto stage during the @EarthshotPrize Awards tonight pic.twitter.com/FjJg1ntGNB

— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) October 17, 2021

As the awards came to an end, William said: "I want to say something to all the young people watching tonight. For too long, we haven’t done enough to protect the planet for your future. But Earthshot is for you. In the next ten years we are going to act. We are going to find the solutions to repair our planet."

The Duke and Duchess speak to winners via video call. 

Chatting with guests including the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who joined the couple for a Generation Earthshot event earlier this week. 

A behind-the-scenes photo with Global Optimism co-founder Tom Rivett-Carnac. 

As noted by Dame Emma Thompson, guests were asked to choose outfits with sustainability in mind. When Kate had a look through her closet (and one can imagine what a glorious sight that is at Kensington Palace), she decided it was time to bring back the divine lilac Grecian Alexander McQueen gown she debuted a decade ago in Los Angeles for a BAFTA event. It was an incredibly special engagement, and by far the most glamorous Kate had undertaken. Kate was the toast of Tinsel Town as she mingled with the stars.

Whenever we discuss the possibility of repeating gowns, it never fails to feature in your top three choices, and it's easy to see why. It remains timeless, classic and very much a 'princess gown'.

Kate's only alteration was a change of waist belt. Instead of the shimmering piece she wore in 2011, the Duchess chose a pearl beaded style. 

Kate accessorised with stunning Kiki McDonough morganite earrings.

Kate sported her Oscar de la Renta Cabrina pumps.

We'll see the Duchess on Tuesday. Kate's due to deliver the keynote speech at an event hosted by the Forward Trust to launch the charity’s “Taking Action on Addiction” campaign.