Prince William hires ‘longtime’ friend of Harry and Meghan for £50m project

The Prince of Wales has taken on a close friend of Meghan and Harry’s as part of his £50million climate change project.

José Andrés has been hired to be part of the Earthshot Prize Council – a huge project with members also including Sir David Attenborough. José, 55, a chef who runs World Central Kitchen providing food relief in humanitarian crises, is also a charity partner of Harry and Meghan’s Archewell foundation.

The Sussexes refer to him as a “longtime friend” on their website, while he previously paid tribute to them last year, writing: “You bring hope to each and every community you touch.” Launched earlier this year, the Earthshot Prize has been described as the “most prestigious environment prize in history”, awarding people for their dedication to fighting climate change.

Council members such as José will select projects worthy of £5million funding. William, 41, will host the next Earthshot ceremony in Cape Town in November.

José has worked on multiple humanitarian projects in recent years with his nonprofit organisation providing meals to those impacted by natural disasters, climate change and other crises. Earlier this year, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and has been twice named among Time’s 100 Most Influential People.

He said he was “thrilled” to be joining Earthshot and that there was “so much we can do to inspire the world to see food as a powerful tool for creativity and change”. Others joining the project’s council include author Nemonte Nenquimo and Wanjira Mathai, a environmental activist.

It comes after Harry flew in to the UK last week for the memorial service for his and William’s uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. The feuding brothers reportedly sat apart during the service in Norfolk and did not speak to one another throughout the wake, with mourners saying at one point they were stood virtually back to back to one another.