Prince William Hands Out Tusk Conservation Awards in London
Prince William attended the 2026 Tusk Conservation Awards in London and presented this year's honors to three conservation workers. The ceremony was the 14th annual event and took place at Raffles London at The OWO, a hotel in central London. Town & Country reported that the honorees were Daniel Yiankere, Dr. Colleen Begg, and Raabia Hawa.
Tusk is a British charity that works to protect wildlife in Africa. William is its royal patron, which means he lends his name and public backing to the group. Royal patrons often attend events like this one to draw attention and support. The awards were set up in 2013 in partnership with Ninety One, an investment firm, and in conjunction with the Prince of Wales, the title then held by William's father, who is now King Charles III.
The awards include several categories. The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa is a lifetime achievement honor for many years of dedicated work in the field, and it is supported by Ninety One. The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa is supported by Defender and goes to an emerging leader. The Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, supported by the Nick Maughan Foundation, recognizes rangers who show dedication and bravery while protecting endangered wildlife in Africa. Finalists also receive grants to support their work.
Since the awards began, 61 winners have received about $2.7 million in grants, according to Town & Country.
The event drew family members from several branches of the royal circle. Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, twin daughters of Charles Spencer, attended. Their father is the younger brother of Princess Diana, William's mother, who died in 1997. The twins serve as ambassadors for Tusk. Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne, the king's sister, was also there.
For American readers, the evening offers a close look at how the royal family's charity work runs. A royal patron brings a name, a room full of guests, and press attention. The money and the awards themselves come from the charity and its partners. The event shows the family's continuing role in conservation, with the named honors and grants doing the day-to-day work.
