Kensington Palace has unveiled a significant new project featuring the Prince of Wales alongside a celebrated sporting figure. Prince William has joined forces with former England footballer and Lioness Jill Scott to create a special video marking the centenary of the charity Fields in Trust, of which he is President.
A Royal and Sporting Partnership for Nature
The collaboration, filmed earlier this year, aims to spotlight the critical importance of protecting the nation's local parks, playgrounds, and playing fields. The video follows the pair as they stroll through the Windlesham Field of Remembrance in Surrey, engaging with local park users and discussing the irreplaceable value of these community assets.
Throughout their conversation, both William and Scott reflect on the pivotal role green spaces have played in their own lives. The Prince, a passionate environmental advocate and founder of the Earthshot Prize, emphasised the permanence of green space loss. "The green space protection part is really important, because once a green space goes, it’s gone forever," he stated.
Personal Reflections on Community Havens
Jill Scott shared powerful memories of her childhood in Sunderland, crediting her local pitch with launching her professional career. "A lot of my childhood was just going to the local park playing football… without green spaces, I probably would never have gone on to kind of play football at any level," she recalled.
She also highlighted the profound everyday impact of these spaces, recounting a conversation with a young boy who said, "if they take away my park, they take away my morning with my dad." This sentiment underscores the charity's century-long mission to safeguard these areas for health, wellbeing, and community connection, a mission William described as being as crucial today as it was in 1925 when the charity was founded.
Coaching the Next Generation
The video also captures the duo getting practically involved, coaching a football match with students from a local school. This activity reinforced their shared message about the role of playing fields in fostering youth development and community spirit.
Prince William stressed the universal need for access to nature, saying, "Having access to fresh air, a bit of peace and quiet, greenery, is so good for our minds and bodies. You need to have that space… in as many communities as you can." He proudly noted his family's long-standing connection with the charity, which now spans 100 years.
The project serves as a central part of the charity's centenary celebrations, showcasing its enduring work to ensure everyone has protected green space "on their doorstep." It brings together royal patronage and sporting influence to champion a cause vital to the environmental and social fabric of the United Kingdom.
