Prince William appears on Graham Norton Show for Earthshot Prize special

The Prince of Wales surprised the studio audience by joining the hosts and guests on the sofa during a pre‑recorded Earthshot Prize edition of the talk show.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 01:06:27 GMT

The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance on a special Earthshot Prize edition of The Graham Norton Show, joining guests Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham.

What happened

The pre‑recorded episode was filmed on 22 October 2026 and will be broadcast on BBC One at 10.40 pm the following night. Graham Norton introduced the three celebrity guests, all linked to the Earthshot Prize, before inviting the prince onto the sofa. The audience reacted with cheers and gasps as William took his seat, becoming the first royal to sit on the iconic sofa. The show also featured a performance by singer Jorja Smith.

What the reports add

The Daily Mail noted that William mentioned his family’s obsession with the TV series “Celebrity Traitors”, saying Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are avid fans.
The BBC highlighted that the conversation centred on pairing optimism with urgency in tackling climate change and reiterated the prize’s five goals and the £1 million award for each winner.
The BBC also specified that the episode will air at 22.40 on Friday and that this year’s Earthshot winners will be announced at a ceremony in Mumbai in November.
Both outlets reported that William spoke about his long‑time support for Aston Villa and his admiration for Christopher Nolan’s films.

What was said

“The Earthshot Prize was founded to celebrate and scale the solutions that will repair our planet,” William said, as reported by the BBC.

He added that years of hearing negative environmental stories left him feeling down, prompting him to create something more hopeful, according to the Daily Mail.

William also said his family enjoys “Celebrity Traitors,” with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis being particular fans, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

How it came about

The Earthshot Prize was launched by William in 2020, inspired by John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot programme. Earlier this year, William attended Aston Villa’s 6‑0 Champions League win over Fenerbahçe, a match covered by Felo News (link). His ongoing involvement with the prize was highlighted in a September 2026 Felo piece on his relationship with Prince Harry (link). The Prince and Princess of Wales’s official Instagram teased the surprise with a photo of William on the sofa in a blue suit, tagging the show and the Earthshot Prize.

Key facts

Prince William appeared on a special Earthshot Prize edition of The Graham Norton Show. (dailymail.co.uk)
The episode was filmed on 22 October 2026 and will air on BBC One at 10.40 pm. (bbc.co.uk)
Guests included Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham, all linked to the Earthshot Prize. (bbc.co.uk)
William said the prize aims to "celebrate and scale the solutions that will repair our planet". (bbc.co.uk)
He mentioned his support for Aston Villa and love of Christopher Nolan films. (dailymail.co.uk)