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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have walked the green carpet in London for the first ever Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.

Established by Prince William, this prize recognises those who have set up projects that help the environment and combat climate change.

Celebrities including Emma Watson, David Attenborough, Ed Sherran, Emma Thompson and Coldplay either presented awards or performed. Attending guests were asked to “consider the environment” when choose an outfit.

Kate Middletown stunned the crowd in a recycled Alexander McQueen dress she had previously warn to the BAFTA dinner in 2011.

William worn a velvet green suit he had been seen in back in 2019.

The couple arrived in an electric car, ditching the usual royal fleet of Range Rovers.

The Earthshot Prize offers winners a huge £1 million ($1.8million AUD) cash prize to fund and scale-up their environmental projects.

There are five categories:

  • Protect and restore nature.
  • Clean our air.
  • Revive our oceans.
  • Build a waste-free world.
  • Fix our climate.

Winners of the inaugural event include a food waste hub in Milan and the nation of Costa Rica, which is pioneering a project to pay people to restore natural ecosystems.

Among the judges were Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett and singer Shakira.

A Sydney team behind the ‘Living Seawalls’ project was among the list of nominees selected in the oceans category.

In a short, pre-recorded video played to the crowd, William said: “We are alive in the most consequential time in human history.”

“The actions we choose or choose not to take in the next 10 years will determine the fate of the planet for the next 1000,” he said.

“Many of the answers are already out there,” he added. “But we need everyone, from all parts of society to raise their ambition and unite in repairing our planet.”

The ceremony comes days ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, which begins October the 31st.

Image: Getty Images

This article first appeared on Over60.