JOINED BY STARS AT THE TUSK AWARDS
SHINES A LIGHT ON AFRICA’S CONSERVATION HEROES
The Prince of Wales was joined by rock royalty as he honoured the recipients of this year’s Tusk Conservation Awards in London.
Prince William chatted to veteran Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, an ambassador for the Africa-based Tusk Trust, ahead of the glittering awards ceremony at The Savoy hotel.
Ronnie, who was attending with his wife Sally, said he had invited the Prince to watch the band on tour next year after discussing their new album, Hackney Diamonds.. “I said: ‘Come on, you’ve got to come out on tour,’” said Ronnie. “William said [he would] if we could get Taylor Swift there.”
Joking about the band’s combined age of over 200 years, the rocker added: “We had to talk about conservation – with an old band like ours.”
Ronnie and Sally also showed William two life-size models they had decorated as part of Tusk’s Gorilla Trail, an installation in central London this summer that raised more than £130,000 to support the charity’s work.
Other famous ambassadors for the wildlife conservation body included mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, the Marchioness of Bath, actor Martin Clunes and singer Jack Savoretti. Science and wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin hosted the ceremony.
In his speech, Prince William said: “This event gives us a rare moment to reflect on the significant achievements of our award winners and to recognise the challenges they face each and every day. It is also a reminder that Africa, its people and its biodiversity are disproportionately affected by the impacts of a warming
