THE PRINCE OF WALES - AT THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE AWARDS

DRAWS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS AFRICA TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING THE PLANET

- DANIELLE STACEY

It was his most high-profile appearance of the year and a dazzling return to the world stage for the Prince of Wales, as he took his passion project, Earthshot, to Cape Town.

In a week full of hope, action and sustainable fashion - the heir to the throne brought together hundreds of South Africans and inspirational figures from across the continent to focus minds on finding solutions to some of the planet's biggest problems.

And as the Prince of Wales prepared to walk the world's longest green carpet to attend his fourth Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony, his wife and children were not far from his mind.

Reflecting on his family at home in Windsor, he said: "I hope they are watching and they are proud of what we are trying to do here." Appearing without his wife the Princess - who is continuing to recover from cancer treatment - he said Kate was "doing really well" and "cheering me on".

"She's been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

A GLITTERING LINE-UP

The Earthshot Prize Awards, held in a vast eco-dome at Green Point Shared Fields, was the highlight of Prince William's four-day visit. He was joined by a star-studded line up for a ceremony broadcast live across the entire continent of Africa.

On his most significant trip since the Princess was diagnosed with cancer in February, William was joined by supermodels Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow, Pose star Billy Porter and Australian conservationist Robert Irwin as he unveiled the five winners, who were each awarded a £1m prize to scale up their innovative ideas to help repair the planet.