Prince Charles reveals he fears for his grandchildren’s future as climate change reaches ‘tipping point’

During a Royal Tour of New Zealand, the Prince of Wales warned that urgent action must be taken to save the planet from climate change.

The Prince of Wales has been a keen climate change activist for many years. And now he’s taken the opportunity to warn that change must be made within the next decade before the situation cannot be undone.

During a lecture at Lincoln University in New Zealand, the 71-year-old made reference to his grandchildren - Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four and Prince Louis, one - from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s newest addition Archie - and his “overwhelming desire” to protect their future.

He said, “I have always been driven by an overwhelming desire not to be confronted by my grandchildren demanding to know why I didn’t do anything to prevent them being bequeathed a poisoned and destroyed planet.

“Now, of course, we are indeed being confronted by these very children, demanding immediate action and not just words. How much longer therefore can we dither and delay?”

Having recently co-authored a Ladybird Expert book on climate change (intended as an easy-read adult guide on the topic), Charles said we are at “a tipping point, at which we still have the ability to change course, but really only in the next 10 years... after which there may be no going back”.

And, given how fondly he’s spoken about his grandkids previously, it’s no surprise the Prince is concerned for their future welfare.

On being “Grandpa Wales,” he explained, “It’s a different part of your life. The great thing is to encourage them. Show them things to take their interest. My grandmother did that, she was wonderful. It is very important to create a bond when they are very young.”

His speech comes just days after concerns were raised that the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s tour could be overshadowed by Prince Andrew’s announcement that he would be stepping down from royal duties. This follows his interview with Emily Maitlis about his friendship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.