David Beckham was suited and booted at the US event (Picture:Karwai Tang/WireImage)
David Beckham brushed off criticism of his lucrative deal with Qatar at the World Cup to mingle with royalty at the Earthshot Prize this week, getting chummy with the Prince and Princess of Wales in the process.
The former footballer – whose deal with Qatar led to comedian Joe Lycett ‘shredding’ (but not really) £10,000 – headed to the glitzy soiree in Boston on Friday night and was joined not only by royals, but Hollywood stars including Rami Malek.
The event is one of the highlights of the Prince of Wales’s official calendar and has been dubbed the future King’s ‘World Cup’ moment by Hannah Jones, the Earthshot Prize’s chief executive officer.
And William was evidently in great spirits as he met with Beckham, who similarly looked thrilled to chat with the Prince and Princess, planting a kiss on Kate’s cheek as she embraced the sportsman.
Celebrities who walked the green carpet at the awards ceremony – which honoured environmental pioneers – included Hollywood actor Malek, who presented the Fix Our Climate award.
He spelled out the environmental dilemma facing the planet before the ceremony, saying: ‘This is the greatest crisis that we are facing in our lifetime and it will probably be the greatest crisis that future generations are facing as well.
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked thrilled to be catching up with Beckham (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Beckham leaned in to plant a kiss on Kate’s cheek during the event (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Beckham looked on as the royals spoke at the star-studded event (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
‘But hopefully we can lessen that challenge for them by the actions we take right now.
‘The innovation, the intelligent minds that are coming together to make changes and are being rewarded by the Earthshot Prize tonight will have a massive impact on what the world will look like.’
Rami Malek attended the awards (Picture: Joseph Prezioso / AFP)
Chloe x Halle performed (Picture: Joseph Prezioso / AFP)
Artists who performed on the night included Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce proteges Chloe x Halle.
Organisers of the ceremony implemented a number of green policies, from encouraging guests to dress sustainably by wearing vintage clothing or recycling outfits for future use, to ensuring the plants and flowers on display are grown locally.
And the Princess of Wales obliged with sustainable clothing, wearing jewels from her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales and choosing an emerald green Solace London dress, which was rented from the platform HURR, and glittering heels from her wardrobe.
Ellie Goulding fronted up to the event (Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Beckham has remained quiet amid backlash to his appearance at the World Cup (Picture: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock)
Kate presented the Clean Our Air award to Mukuru Clean Stoves, Kenya – a start-up providing cleaner-burning stoves to women in Kenya to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook.
She told the Earthshot guests: ‘To breathe clean air is something so many of us take for granted, but sadly for millions of people around the world, it is not a given.
‘From smoke enveloping cities to the impact seen in nature, air pollution poses a threat that knows no borders.
‘Heartbreakingly over 250 million children under the age of five are breathing polluted air every single day. And this fact is even harder to hear, because we know the significant impact pollution has on our life-long development.’
Among the five finalists was UK winner Notpla, a circular solution creating an alternative to plastic packaging from seaweed which scooped the Build A Waste-Free World award.
William closed the event when he took to the stage to tell the audience: ‘I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet’s greatest challenges.
‘And by supporting and scaling them we can change our future.
‘Alongside tonight’s winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it’s my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive.’
Beckham’s appearance at the gala comes after he recently came under fire by comedian Lycett, who criticised the star’s decision to sign a lucrative deal listing him as a Qatari ambassador given the nation’s laws against LGBTQ+ people.
Lycett made headlines after appearing to shred £10,000 of his own money in response to Beckham – who is yet to comment on the criticism – refusing the end his controversial involvement, before revealing he had in fact donated the money to LGBTQ+ charities.
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The star-studded event was attended by the royals.
