Prince William has sent his thoughts to those affected by the wildfires across Europe, issuing a stern warning over the “challenges posed” by climate change.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the UK,” the social media post reads.
“We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers working tirelessly in extraordinarily difficult conditions.
“These events are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate and the importance of protecting both people and nature.”
More than 360,000 people have now been evacuated by the devastating wildfires that have ripped through parts of Europe, with France and Spain being the worst affected.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with his cabinet this morning to discuss the situation, as flames advanced towards the city of Bordeaux, where many of the country’s wine vineyards are located.
The fire has so far burnt through 42,000 hectares of land.
Mr Macron is due to visit the southwestern region of Gironde this evening, one of the worst affected areas. He said the situation is “unprecedented” and “more difficult than at any time since the Second World War”.
For France, it is the worst fires in 20 years, whereas Madrid, near to one of the most significant wildfires, say they are the worst they have ever experienced.
Madrid’s government delegate Francisco Martin this evening said the situation near the capital “remains complex” due to several flare-ups.
The wildfires are not “a succession of isolated events,” but “the most painful expression of a climate emergency,” Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said earlier today.
Mr Sánchez told reporters that it is climate change that has made the wildfires “more ferocious, heatwaves more frequent, and our territory more vulnerable”.
William, like his father, has long championed environmental causes. At the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife last month, the future King explained that his sustainability work has so far kept his “environmental anxiety at bay because I can actually see some of the things we are doing are bringing change”.
There, he also reinstated his “passion for nature” and the environment, as he urged executives to be “more courageous” in tackling the illegal wildlife trade.
The prince also established the Earthshot Prize in 2020 as a global environmental competition recognising individuals and organisations developing solutions to restore the planet.
King Charles has also led the charge on climate change since his introduction to public speaking. In 1970, the then-Prince of Wales warned an audience in Cardiff of the “horrifying effects of pollution, in all its cancerous forms”.
He added his concerns about the “growing menace of oil pollution at sea” and “chemical pollution, discharged into rivers from factories and chemical plants”.
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom, Elin Suleymanov also told GB News the monarch’s “commitment to environment and to climate change is very inspirational”.
