Prince William Reveals Relatable Family Reason Kate Middleton Isn’t Joining Him on Singapore Trip

Prince William explains why Kate Middleton did not travel with him on his visit to Singapore.

In a speech on Monday morning, William, 41, said Kate could not be with him because of an important family reason: Prince George’s education.

“Catherine is very sorry she can’t be here,” William said. “She’s helping George through his first set of big exams.”

The royal family added that his last visit, with Kate, 41, was “unforgettable” 11 years ago. On this occasion, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Singapore on behalf of their late grandmother Queen Elizabeth during her Diamond Jubilee year.

This time, however, William is in Singapore for the third annual Earthshot Prize, which seeks new solutions to the planet’s problems, and for his United For Wildlife program, which works to “protect our natural world from international criminal groups intent on plundering it,” he said in Monday.

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Prince William gave a speech on Monday morning.

MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images

Speaking at the United for Wildlife summit on Monday, William also railed passionately against the “greed and exploitation” that led to the looting of endangered species – something he said had caused wildlife populations to decline by “nearly 70% in the last 50 years .”

“Namibia, home to the largest number of black rhinos in the world, has experienced a devastating 93% increase in rhino poaching from 2021 to 2022,” he continued.

“We know where the animals are poached; we know the routes they take illegally; we know the financial systems that criminal networks exploit to finance their trade; and we know the main markets that drive demand for it,” he added on how the problem can be targeted.

Prince William is meeting with participants of the United for Wildlife global summit in Singapore on Monday.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Paddle! Prince William winner of the Dragon Boat Race ahead of the Earthshot Prize Event in Singapore

“Let’s use this summit to renew our collective resolve to defeat the criminal groups that cause such unnecessary environmental and human loss.”

“This is a battle that can and must be won.”

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William’s United for Wildlife campaign brings together governments, businesses, police authorities and transport agencies to fight crime. Such high-profile agencies are necessary because these are often the same highly organized gangs that traffic in drugs, weapons and people.

“This criminal convergence makes the illegal wildlife trade as much a human as it is an environmental crisis,” William said, before adding that “the global black market that has made flora and fauna the world’s fourth most traded illegal commodity is worth up to 20 billion dollars.”

“This is a global problem that requires the urgent attention of all of us.”

Despite the mammoth task, William’s network has achieved much success since its inception almost ten years ago. He said the network had supported more than 600 investigations, “nearly 300 seizures of illegal wildlife products and trained more than 110,000 people to combat wildlife crime”.

Prince William at the United for Wildlife summit in Singapore on Monday.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

“But our work is far from over,” William added. “We must be more determined, more innovative and more resourceful in the relentless pursuit of our mission to defeat this trade.

“I am pleased to announce today that United for Wildlife has led the creation of the world’s first international statement of principles, agreed between governments to prevent, detect and deter financial activities that support the illegal wildlife trade,” he continued.

“The signatories, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the US, South Africa and Singapore, will commit to regular cooperation in the fight against money laundering by transnational criminal syndicates involved in the illegal wildlife trade.”

Prince William at the United for Wildlife summit in Singapore on Monday.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Paddle! Prince William winner of the Dragon Boat Race ahead of the Earthshot Prize Event in Singapore

William also mentioned why it is important to be in Singapore — a key transportation and business hub in Southeast Asia. He said Singaporean authorities seized 34kg of rhino horn worth about $1.2 million at Changi Airport last year. To combat this crime, he said United for Wildlife has formed a new partnership with a local company, Mandai Nature, so that they are better equipped to deal with the entire commercial ecosystem in the region.

“There is no greater example of the benefits of international cooperation than here in Singapore,” William said. “We can take great encouragement in the many ways in which this country is meeting the challenge.”

Earlier on Monday, William had fun on the water as he took part in the traditional Dragon Boat Race in the shadow of some of Singapore’s most famous buildings.

Prince William takes part in the Dragon Boat Race on Monday.

MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images

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Source: HIS Education