During his recent visit to New York City, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, opted for a unique and energetic start to his day. On a crisp Tuesday morning, the 41-year-old royal embarked on a secret early morning run in Central Park. The clock had just struck 7 a.m., and while most New Yorkers were still in slumber, Prince William was out for a jog. The probable culprit for his early rise? Jet lag, considering the time difference as the U.K. is five hours ahead.
The revelation of his low-key adventure came during the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, held at the iconic Plaza Hotel, where he engaged in a discussion about his environmental initiative with previous Earthshot Prize winner, Vaitea Cowan. During their conversation, she couldn’t resist asking, “Is it true? Did you go running in Central Park this morning?” With a smile, Prince William confirmed, “I did, Vaitea, yes. I decided to join the hordes of New Yorkers doing their morning routine. It was wonderful waking up in New York on a sunny morning rather than the rain we had yesterday. It was beautiful getting some fresh air this morning.”
Reflecting on his return to the city, he added, “It’s been wonderful to be back. I think 2014 was the last time I was here.” He reminisced about his previous visit with Kate Middleton, which included stops at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, a Brooklyn Nets game where they met JAY-Z and Beyoncé, a dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and more.
The run served as the precursor to a busy day for the Prince. In addition to his “fireside chat” at the summit, he unveiled the 15 finalists for this year’s Earthshot Prize. The ultimate winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Singapore on November 7th, a trip that Prince William confirmed during his New York visit.
Prince William’s visit to the Big Apple began on Monday when he highlighted an innovative project aimed at restoring oyster reefs in the city’s harbor, engaging local youth in the process. At the Billion Oyster Project, a nonprofit organization, Prince William met volunteers, students, and restaurateurs involved in the initiative. He even had the chance to explore an oyster hatchery and observe a stack of oyster shells used in reef restoration.
While speaking with individuals working on the oyster pile, Prince William remarked, “When it’s dry with nice weather, it must be quite therapeutic.” Almost as beautiful as a run in the Central Park.