In the footsteps of heart-throb actors and internet billionaires, the Duke of Cambridge will star in a Saturday late-night TV programme in China to bring home his animal conservation message in the nation that drives the world’s illegal wildlife trade.
Prince William will give a speech and join a panel discussion at King’s College London on the protection of endangered species as Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, arrives for a state visit and stay at Buckingham Palace.
CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster, will film the the prince’s speech for a special episode of Let’s Talk, a 45-minute show on its main channel, CCTV-1, which features one role model each week to give young people “realistic discussion and nourishment for the soul”.
The show is usually filmed in Beijing and recent guests have included Robin Li, founder of the online search giant Baidu, and Huang Xiaoming, the actor who this month married fellow superstar Angela Yeung, more commonly known as Angelababy, in a lavish ceremony in Shanghai.
The format consists of the star guest giving a speech, after which young people off stage pose questions. The prince will be joined by Sir David Attenborough, whose programmes are well-known in China, and Bear Grylls, who recently launched a survival adventure show featuring Chinese celebrities.
Advertisement
Another likely panellist, Yao Ming, the former basketball player, has already become a significant force for change on wildlife protection issues in China. Now retired from the NBA, Mr Yao has used his massive domestic fame to challenge the public’s taste for shark’s fins and its stubborn demand for ivory.
In keeping with the show’s highly positive agenda, Prince William is likely to spell out the extreme danger facing elephants, rhinos, tigers and other species, but emphasise that young people can make a difference and protect them for future generations to enjoy.
Body parts from these animals are still prized in Chinese medicine. Even as Beijing moves towards a full ban on the ivory trade and cracks down on smugglers, the government allows a small-scale legal trade in ivory that opponents say provides cover for the far larger illicit market.
Prince William condemned the illegal trade in wildlife on a trip to China in March, where he visited an elephant sanctuary. During the tour of the country delivered the Queen’s invitation for Mr Xi to visit Britain.
The British royal family enjoys sizeable popularity in China, especially Diana, Princess of Wales. Prince George is also widely followed.