William makes surprise appearance on Graham Norton with A-list stars as Prince helps judge who survives Big Red Chair

PRINCE William stunned Graham Norton fans as he made a surprise appearance on the host’s famous show. The future King was greeted with cheers from the audience as he became the first royal to sit on the chat show’s iconic sofa. William popped up during a special Earthshot Prize edition of The Graham Norton Show, which airs this evening at 10.40pm. He joined Hollywood star Cate Blanchett, Australian conservationist Robert Irwin and actress Hannah Waddingham on the BBC show. The Prince, who founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020, chatted about his love of Aston Villa and films by director Christopher Nolan. But much of the conversation focused on his flagship environmental initiative and its mission to tackle climate change. READ MORE: UK News William spoke about the need to combine urgency with optimism when addressing the environmental crisis. He also explained how the Earthshot Prize identifies promising innovators around the world and helps them expand their solutions to have a greater impact. The royal stressed that climate change could not be tackled by one person or initiative alone. He said the prize could help bring together a global network of innovators, investors and advocates to drive change. Most read in Royals Blanchett, who sits on the Earthshot Prize Council, described the initiative as a “tapestry of solutions”. Waddingham, who hosted the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore, praised the support given to finalists. She also highlighted how the prize connects innovators with the expertise, networks and investment they need to grow their work. Irwin, an Earthshot Prize global ambassador, spoke about its role in inspiring young people and creating a new generation of environmental campaigners. Before William’s surprise arrival, Norton had been discussing the prize with his three celebrity guests. He then revealed their shared connection was the Earthshot Prize before introducing the Prince. William’s appearance had been teased on the Prince and Princess of Wales‘s official Instagram story. A picture showed him sitting on the famous sofa in a blue suit, alongside tags for the show and the Earthshot Prize and two eye emojis. The special episode also featured a performance by singer Jorja Smith. William is not the first royal to appear on a chat show. Princess Anne appeared on The Wogan Show in 1985, followed by the late Prince Philip in 1986.