The event promoted his Earthshot Prize ahead of its annual awards ceremony
Prince William took to the streets of London for a game of cricket with some of the sport’s biggest names, turning a famous royal thoroughfare into a temporary pitch.
The Prince of Wales joined current and former international cricketers on The Mall, which leads towards Buckingham Palace, on October 13, 2026.
The event promoted his Earthshot Prize ahead of its awards ceremony, which will take place in Mumbai next month.
Among those joining William were former India captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara and England captain Joe Root.
The gathering also celebrated the sporting and cultural connections between Britain and India, two countries with a longstanding passion for cricket.
The Mall is usually associated with royal processions, ceremonial occasions and large public celebrations. However, the historic London location took on a different role as the prince picked up a bat and faced deliveries from Ganguly.
Dressed in a shirt and sweater, William attempted several shots during the friendly game, with spectators watching from nearby. He also posed for selfies with onlookers who had gathered to see the unusual sporting event outside Buckingham Palace.
Ganguly offered a positive assessment of the prince’s performance when asked about his cricketing ability:
“He batted alright.”
The appearance brought together prominent figures from the cricketing world to highlight the relationship between sport, international cooperation and environmental action.
Founded in 2020, the Earthshot Prize recognises solutions designed to address some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Each year, five winners receive £1 million to help develop and expand projects that repair the planet. The initiative supports environmental innovations intended to create practical solutions to issues affecting communities and ecosystems worldwide.
The upcoming Mumbai ceremony will bring the prize to India, providing an opportunity to highlight environmental work and encourage collaboration between countries.
The event also spotlights the relationship between the two nations.
William’s appearance offered a light-hearted way to build interest in the forthcoming awards while bringing international cricketing figures together in a recognisable London setting.
The gathering comes ahead of the November ceremony, where the Earthshot Prize will celebrate projects working towards a more sustainable future.
By combining a friendly cricket match with environmental campaigning, the event connected one of Britain’s best-known sporting traditions with the prize’s international ambitions.
The Mumbai summit is expected to draw further attention to environmental initiatives and the people developing solutions to protect the planet for future generations.
