Britain’s Prince Visits Singapore for Earthshot Environmental Prize

 Britain's Prince William, right, is greeted by Australian actress Cate Blanchett on the green carpet for the Earthshot Prize Awards in in Singapore, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP)
Britain's Prince William, right, is greeted by Australian actress Cate Blanchett on the green carpet for the Earthshot Prize Awards in in Singapore, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP)
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Britain’s Prince Visits Singapore for Earthshot Environmental Prize

 Britain's Prince William, right, is greeted by Australian actress Cate Blanchett on the green carpet for the Earthshot Prize Awards in in Singapore, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP)
Britain's Prince William, right, is greeted by Australian actress Cate Blanchett on the green carpet for the Earthshot Prize Awards in in Singapore, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP)

Britain's Prince William attended the annual Earthshot Prize ceremony on Tuesday, which awards 1 million pounds ($1.23 million) to each of five green innovators working on projects including a cleaner lithium-ion battery and ocean conservation.

"The light of optimism is burning bright in our Earthshot finalists," Prince William said at the ceremony in Singapore.

The five winners includes one from Hong Kong who is working on building cleaner, recyclable lithium-ion batteries that are used in electric cars, and another that tightens marine enforcement to end illegal fishing and support ocean conservation.

Representing six continents and chosen from over 1,300 nominees, the 15 finalists' projects ranged from a scheme to plant, grow and digitally track trees in Liberia to a less carbon-intensive method of treating industrial wastewater.

This year marks the first time that the finalists are attending the awards ceremony in person, Kensington Palace said.

William, who became heir to the British throne after Queen Elizabeth died in September last year, set up the prize in 2020. Its name is a nod to former US President John F. Kennedy's ambitious "moonshot" project and goal for the 1969 moon landings.

During the four-day trip to Singapore, one of Asia's greenest cities, William will meet Singaporeans and "learn about how local organizations are working to protect and restore our planet – from tackling the illegal wildlife trade and protecting the rainforest to incubating and scaling cutting edge innovations," Kensington Palace said.

This is William's first trip to Singapore since 2012, when he visited with his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales.



Photos Show a Filipino Couple Walking Down a Flooded Aisle on Their Wedding Day

Newlyweds Jade Rick Verdillo right, and Jamaica walk hand in hand during their wedding at the flooded Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Newlyweds Jade Rick Verdillo right, and Jamaica walk hand in hand during their wedding at the flooded Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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Photos Show a Filipino Couple Walking Down a Flooded Aisle on Their Wedding Day

Newlyweds Jade Rick Verdillo right, and Jamaica walk hand in hand during their wedding at the flooded Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Newlyweds Jade Rick Verdillo right, and Jamaica walk hand in hand during their wedding at the flooded Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day. Even if it meant walking down a flooded one.

On Tuesday, the Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines flooded due to heavy rain. Typhoon Whipa had intensified seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, bringing widespread flooding.

The couple anticipated the risk of flooding, but instead of letting the weather dampen the mood, they decided to push through, as all marriages have their challenges.

“We just mustered enough courage,” said Verdillo. “We decided today because it is a sacrifice in itself. But there will more sacrifices if we don’t push through today.”

Aguilar waded down the aisle with her white dress and wedding train floating behind her through waters almost up to her knees. At the altar, Verdillo was waiting to receive her while wearing an embroidered shirt called a Barong Tagalog, worn during special occasions.

The newlyweds have been together for 10 years. The groom said, “I feel that challenges won’t be over. It’s just a test. This is just one of the struggles that we’ve overcome.”

Despite the turbulent weather, some family and friends made it to the wedding.

“You will see love prevailed because even against weather, storm, rains, floods, the wedding continued,” said Jiggo Santos, a wedding guest. “It’s an extraordinary wedding.”