Prince William, Prince of Wales talks with workers from across the construction industry before visiting a construction site on September 13, 2023 in London, England. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William, Prince of Wales talks with workers from across the construction industry before visiting a construction site on September 13, 2023 in London, England. Photo / Getty Images
The 76-year-old guitarist met the Prince of Wales at the 11th annual Tusk Conservation Awards in London on Monday, November 27, and he urged the 41-year-oldroyal to come and see him in action.
Ronnie is quoted by the Daily Telegraph newspaper as saying: “We were talking about the tour and I said ‘Come on, you’ve got to come out on tour’ and we were talking about the new album and everything.
“William said (he would) if we could get Taylor Swift there.”
The veteran rocker told the prince the Cruel Summer singer had previously sung with frontman Sir Mick Jagger, prompting William to promise: “I’m there then.”
The Sweet Sounds of Heaven hitmaker poked fun at the age of himself and his bandmates.
Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, right, sings with US singers Taylor Swift, left, and Jon Bon Jovi at the Centrepoint Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace in London, Tuesday, November 26, 2013. Photo / AP
He quipped: “We had to talk about conservation – with an old band like ours.”
The awards honoured three people, Ekwoge Abwe received the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, Fanny Minesi was presented with the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa and Jealous Mpofu took home the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, with each winner receiving a trophy and grant funding to continue their work.
And William - who has been patron of Tusk since 2005 - paid tribute to the “extraordinary” work of the winners.
He told the audience at the Savoy Hotel: “It’s my great pleasure to be here with you all tonight as we recognise and celebrate the work of three remarkable individuals each, who are working tirelessly for a better and brighter future. Their extraordinary commitment, courage and sacrifice inspires us all.”
The prince felt the winners’ stories served as a “reminder that Africa, its people and its biodiversity are disproportionately affected by the impacts of a warming planet.”
Britain's Prince William looks at a cheetah, at the Mokolodi nature reserve near Gaborone, Botswana, Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Photo / AP
He added: “Impacts which are, for the most part, not driven by those most affected. Those living in Africa emit just a quarter of the emissions than that of the average global citizen.
“Yet the African continent is set to incur disproportionate loss and damage from climate change. But we do have the power to change this and the stories we have heard tonight provide both optimism and hope.”
