King Charles has opened up about his “great worry” for the environment in a new documentary with TV explorer Steve Backshall. At 77, the monarch reflected on the climate crisis and the challenges of addressing it, revisiting some of the places he saw during his 1975 trip to the Canadian Arctic.
Within the documentary, Royal Arctic Challenge, Backshall explores the Arctic while highlighting the effects of climate change, from melting glaciers to plastic pollution affecting seabirds. Charles shared that he finds it “very peculiar” that while scientific advice is generally taken as absolute truth, the warnings on climate change are often met with hesitation.
A Lifelong Commitment to Environmental Issues
The king’s concern for the planet is not new. Decades ago, he spoke out about plastic waste, pollution in rivers, and air pollution from factories, warning of the consequences of environmental neglect. Speaking with Backshall at Buckingham Palace, Charles explained his personal motivation: “To me it is not fair to leave them something in a far worse state than I found it… That’s why I spent all these years, because I don’t want to be accused by my grandchildren of not doing anything about it.”
Arctic Challenges on Screen
In the documentary, Backshall joins a scientist examining the stomach contents of Arctic seabirds, finding traces of plastic pollution, and visits Coronation Glacier, where experts track the ice’s retreat using satellite imagery. Over the past 50 years, the glacier has receded by about 0.6 miles, a stark visual reminder of the changes happening in the region.
Royal Arctic Challenge airs December 18 at 8.30pm, offering viewers both a glimpse of the Arctic’s beauty and a sobering message from a monarch who has spent decades advocating for the planet.
