Prince William’s first trip to the United Arab Emirates focused on one of his main causes — the environment.
On Thursday, the Duke of Cambridge, 39, shared snaps from the visit on Instagram. While in Dubai, Prince William visited the Jubail Mangroves, a nature preserve for species native to Abu Dhabi. He also visited the Jebel Ali Port and met with groups working against illegal wildlife trade.
The royal has long been involved with animal conservation and sustainability. In 2020 he along with David Attenborough launched The Earthshot Prize which awards five winners yearly for their contribution to environmentalism.
He may have also been thinking about his son George during the overseas jaunt, as he included one photo of himself standing next to a futuristic-looking police car.
“Thank you for a wonderful day in the UAE!” he captioned the photos. “From visiting the Jubail Mangroves and Jebel Ali Port to seeing our Earthshot finalists and celebrating the UK National Day @expo2020dubai – it was great to spend time celebrating sustainability, collaboration and innovation. And also to see this police car…! 🚔🇦🇪.”
William has previously revealed that Prince George, 8, is “obsessed” with police cars.
“He is obsessed, actually, by the police….cars, toys, everything,” William said during The Met Excellence Awards in 2018.
While meeting Santa Claus in 2017, Prince William handed a very short wish list from his eldest which had only one item on it: a police car.
“I’ve seen you and I had to give you this letter,” William told Santa. “He hasn’t written down many requests, so I think one request is probably okay.”
The heir to the throne married Kate Middleton in April 2011. They share children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3.
Prince William has said that fatherhood has changed him.
“I’m a lot more emotional than I used to be,” William said in a British TV documentary “When Ant and Dec Met The Prince: 40 Years of the Prince’s Trust.”
“I never used to get too wound up or worried about things. But now the smallest little things, you well up a little more, you get affected by the sort of things that happen around the world or whatever a lot more, I think, as a father.”
“Just because you realize how precious life is and it puts it all in perspective. The idea of not being around to see your children grow up (is terrible),” he added, having lost his own mother, Princess Diana, at the age of 15.
