Britain’s began a four-day visit to South Africa on Monday, focusing on climate change and conservation initiatives.

The trip includes meetings with young environmentalists and fishermen, and the highlight of his journey will be the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, where $1.2 million in grants will be awarded to five organizations for their innovative environmental solutions.

The 42-year-old heir to the U.K. throne is set to attend a global wildlife summit and spend time at a sea rescue institute during his stay in Cape Town.

This year’s Earthshot awards ceremony, which takes place on Wednesday night, will celebrate advancements in environmental innovation and raise awareness of critical conservation issues.

Why Are Prince William’s Estates Under Scrutiny?

During his visit, Prince William aims to shed light on environmental challenges and the vital work of rangers, who are on the front lines of conservation efforts.

The focus comes at a time when scrutiny of the finances of William and his father, , has intensified.

An investigation by U.K. newspaper The Sunday Times and British television station Channel 4 revealed the royals’ private estates have generated millions of pounds through , including the British Armed Forces and the country’s National Health Service.

The Duchy of Lancaster, which belongs to King Charles, stated that while the monarch is involved in overseeing the estate, daily operations are managed by an independent council.

Why is Africa so Special to Prince William?

The Duchy of Cornwall, associated with Prince William, emphasized its commitment to balancing commercial interests with environmental restoration and positive social impact.

William last visited Africa in 2018 but has strong personal ties to the continent.

He traveled there as a teenager after the death of his mother, , in 1997, and he proposed to his wife, Kate, at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya in 2010.

He mentioned that the inspiration for the Earthshot Prize emerged during a visit to Namibia in 2018. “Africa has always held a special place in my heart,” he said in a statement before his visit.

While Kate, Princess of Wales, and their three children—Prince George, , and —did not accompany him, Kate recently resumed public duties after undergoing treatment for .

William’s visit comes on the heels of his brother Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who was in South Africa and neighboring Lesotho last month for a youth charity project he established with a member of Lesotho’s royal family.

What is the Earthshot Prize?

The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2021 through William’s Royal Foundation, aims to inspire innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues.

This year’s finalists include a Kenyan company developing solar-powered systems for homes, an Ecuadorian initiative uniting Indigenous communities to protect forests, and a conservation project in Kazakhstan aimed at saving the critically endangered Saiga antelope.

The awards ceremony will be held in a temporary, reusable dome constructed next to a sports stadium in Cape Town.

The 470-foot-long structure has hosted various events in South Africa and will be repurposed after the ceremony.

William is also scheduled to visit a high school in an underprivileged Cape Town neighborhood, where he is expected to join students for a rugby practice session.

Rugby is a beloved sport in South Africa, and the national team, the Springboks, is the reigning world champion.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press