- Prince William faces protests during Cape Town visit
- The Prince remains composed and engaged
- He expresses his admiration for South Africa
On the final day of Prince William's visit to Cape Town, an unexpected protest unfolded during his official engagement. While the Prince remained composed, the incident highlighted underlying tensions in the local fishing community. Joined by celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Winnie Harlow, and Billy Porter, Prince William explored sustainable fishing practices in Kalk Bay and enjoyed a traditional fish braai with locals.
Arriving by boat at the harbour after meeting sea rescue workers at Simon's Town Harbour, Prince William was warmly received by cheering crowds waving South African flags. His visit, however, took a turn when a pair of protesters voiced their dissent, with one shouting, "Go home, you're not welcome," and another displaying a sign stating, "William, you have no sovereignty in this country."
Mixed reactions from the community
The protest marked the first during his visit, contrasting with the overwhelming support from many locals. Carol Byss from Cape Town expressed her pride in the royal visit, stating, "We love the whole royal family, we're so proud he's here." Despite the protests, she emphasized the community's excitement about Prince William's presence.
However, some local fishermen expressed frustration over being excluded from the engagement. Duwayne Baulse, a fisherman for 15 years, shared his concerns: “They aren’t based here and they don’t buy our fish. People only come here when it is sunny. We are here in the rain and storms.” He added, "We are not angry with him (William). We want people to come here more often. Not this set up."
Prince William's warm interactions
Throughout the visit, Prince William continued to engage warmly with the crowd, receiving beaded key rings crafted by Kate Wardle from Kalk Bay. Expressing his appreciation, he said, "Thank you very much, they’ll love these. Never go home empty-handed, that's important." The Prince also shared his affection for Cape Town, stating, "I love this place. It’s been such an amazing week here - I’ve really enjoyed it, and I don’t want to go!"
Following the engagement, Abalobi executives addressed the protest, acknowledging the exclusion felt by some local fishermen. Serge Raemaekers, Abalobi's co-founder, noted, "I have a feeling that the noise in the background was very much around the fact that we haven't reached these fishing communities yet. We're still a relatively small programme trying to scale."
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A broader mission
Earlier in the day, Prince William met with National Seas Rescue Institute volunteers, learning about their lifesaving work. He revealed his efforts to educate his children about rip tides and expressed a longing for his family's presence during the trip.
Prince William's visit also included the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town, promoting environmental change. His final day was dedicated to meeting with seaweed businesses to explore sustainable innovations.
