On behalf of the Prince of Wales, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke in place of Prince William on Wednesday at a climate change event in New York.
In a virtual address, Ardern referred to the husband of Kate Middleton as an "exceptionally inadequate alternative" and praised his late grandmother.
When Queen Elizabeth passed away, the royal family entered a private period of grief. William had personally asked Ardern to fill in at the Earth shot Prize innovation meeting at this time.
Five people get £1 million each from the Earth shot Prize to support their ongoing environmental work as they spearhead global sustainability initiatives.
Prince William and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough both contributed to its founding.
A "global leader on climate change" who had "devoted her life to building a better world," Ms. Ardern was introduced.
