Full Breakdown
Emma Watson Joins Prince William and Benedict Cumberbatch at United for Wildlife Business Forum
6/23/2026, 10:43:51 PM
Event Overview
On Monday, June 22 2024, during London Climate Action Week, actress-activist Emma Watson appeared onstage at a business forum organized by The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife. The panel, featuring Prince William, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and host June Sarpong, focused on “the natural world and our shared responsibility to protect it.”
Background and Context
United for Wildlife, launched by The Royal Foundation, convenes business leaders to advance wildlife conservation and climate action. Watson’s involvement builds on her prior support for the Prince of Wales’s Earthshot Prize, which rewards innovative climate projects, and on her advocacy for gender equality and workplace safety.
Key Participants
Emma Watson – Actress, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador (2014), co-founder of Renais, supporter of the Earthshot Prize.
Prince William – the Prince of Wales and supporter of United for Wildlife.
Benedict Cumberbatch – Actor and environmental advocate.
June Sarpong – Broadcaster and host.
United for Wildlife – The Royal Foundation program coordinating the event.
Timeline of Involvement
July 2014 – Watson appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
2019 – Watson partners with Time’s Up to launch a UK legal-advice hotline for workplace harassment.
2021 – Watson presents the “Fix Our Climate” award at the inaugural Earthshot Prize ceremony.
June 22 2024 – Watson joins Prince William and Cumberbatch at the forum.
Data and Funding
The Earthshot Prize awards $1.4 million to winners in five categories each year, a funding stream scheduled to run for ten years. The 2024 forum emphasized corporate climate leadership, though no specific monetary commitments were disclosed.
Impact and Significance
Watson highlighted the power of storytelling for brands, noting that transparent narratives can shape consumer behavior and attract youth engagement. By linking entertainment figures with conservation messaging, the forum sought to amplify corporate responsibility and promote protection of the red kite, a bird featured in Watson’s anecdote.
Official Statements & Responses
United for Wildlife’s Instagram post framed the discussion as a collective duty to safeguard nature. The organization’s website describes the Earthshot Prize as a mechanism to “turn bold ideas into solutions for our planet.” In a 2019 statement, Watson emphasized the importance of legal resources for women facing harassment.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Storytelling is really powerful, and the story that you tell as a brand, and the transparency you have and the way that you talk around these issues, it matters,” — Emma Watson, onstage
- “It matters to young people,” — Emma Watson, onstage
- “They were there for a very rare bird, which is called a red kite.” — Emma Watson, onstage
- “Understanding what your rights are, how you can assert them and the choices you have if you’ve experienced harassment is such a vital part of creating safe workplaces for everyone,” — Emma Watson, 2019 statement
