The Prince of Wales met esteemed Australian actress Cate Blanchettto visit Colorifix, a 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist, in Norfolk today.
William joked he should have paid more attention in chemistry as he toured laboratories making sustainable clothing dye with the actress.
The Oscar-winning star joined him in Norwich – both donning lab coats for the occasion.
Ms Blanchett, who sits on the Earthshot Prize Council and previously joined the heir to the throne for the prize awards in Singaporetwo years ago, said the tour will change the way she looks at what colours to wear.
The pair visited four different laboratories that each illustrated a step in Colorifix’s process of making environmentally-friendly fabric dye.
After learning about the technical DNA sequencing of natural colours, William quipped: ‘Today has just made me realise I should have listened in all of my chemistry lessons.
‘Going back over all those old notes like ‘Damn, why didn’t I pay more attention’.’
Speaking afterwards, Ms Blanchett, who has won two Academy Awards for her performances in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, said: ‘The DNA sequencing is incredible.
The Prince of Wales joined Australian actress Cate Blanchett to tour the Colorfix labs in Norfolk today (pictured together)
‘And I think what happens in any scientific process – though I’m far from an expert – is that you get these incredible happy accidents. Like the discovery of a metallic sheen to one of the pigments.’
Some colours are more difficult to make sustainably rather than using petrochemicals – which pollute the planet and are harmful to wildlife – including black, green, white and blue.
Ms Blanchett said the visit had ‘certainly been an education in colour and what is possible,’ and added that in the future, she will ‘certainly look at the amount of white and black and blue in my wardrobe and maybe try and gravitate towards pinks and peaches’.
Colorifix uses DNA sequencing and natural colours to create sustainable dye in an aim to replace the fashion industry’s use of chemically synthesised dyes.
The industry of fabric dying currently consumes five trillion litres of water globally each year and harms wildlife by dangerous chemicals seeping into water sources.
Colorifix aims to reduce this impact by identifying a colour created naturally, either by an animal, plant or microbe, and then using the DNA to pinpoint where that colour is coded in the genetics of that organism.
The DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe that is transported to a dye house, which supports the growth of the colour through fermentation. The result is a dye that can be transferred to fabrics using no added petrochemicals.
Through the visit, Ms Blanchett and Prince William were able to learn how Colorifix identifies the code that produces the pigment and then how the resulting dye liquid they make is attached to fabric.
William and Cate visited the UK-based company this afternoon to hear how staff make sustainable dyes
The pair were invited to look at the DNA under a microscope as well as view the fermentation process firsthand.
In an impromptu speech to Colorifix’s staff at the end, William praised their work and the ability of the start-up to scale since being named as an Earthshot finalist in 2023.
‘I know it’s taken us a bit of time to get here, but you’re doing really well’ he said, adding: ‘Best of luck, it’s going really well and it’s really exciting. I know you’re going to be pushing the industry very quickly so well done.’
The heir to the throne also hailed the ‘magicians’ at the end of the process, when the dye gets transferred onto nine available different types of fabric.
Colorifix, which already works with high street giant H&M on some of their clothing, also takes steps to reduce their carbon footprint at every step of the process.
Ms Blanchett, who keenly asked questions throughout the tour of the various labs, said afterwards: ‘Even within six to 12 months, and in the time that I’ve become aware of [Colorifix’s] activities, and where it is now 12 months down the track is so exciting, just how quickly these things can be scaled up and evolve.’
Orr Yarkoni, the co-founder and chief executive of the company, said that a ‘big difficulty’ they have faced in scaling up is that brands have already cemented their logistics.
He said: ‘The big difficulty here in scaling isn’t just getting to scale, it’s getting to scale at the place because the brands have already set up their logistics – we make over here, we dye over here and then we cut trim over here and then it goes to warehousing.
Cate who lives in Sydney, added a trendy pair of bright pink aviator glasses to her ensemble today
‘So if you’re not applying the technology where they’re already dying…we can’t be everywhere at the same time. So that’s the big challenge.’
Mr Yarkoni added: ‘We need to implement where the supply chain is. Rather than trying to get the industry to adapt to us, we need to do everything to adapt to the industry and make it easy for them to change.’
Ms Blanchett said that brands doing small-scale collaborations ‘is an exciting model’ because ‘people can really engage in those cross-fertilisations.’
‘They have short burn but introduce people to a different way of doing things,’ she explained.
The visit marked Ms Blanchett’s ongoing support for William’s Earthshot Prize, established in 2020, which awards £1 million annually to five inventors who have come up with new solutions to help save the planet.
The actress has previously praised the Prince’s initiative for recognising ‘innovations that are not only game changing but rapidly scalable’.
William said last year that with Earthshot, he wants to ‘celebrate talent and solutions, rather than telling people ‘don’t do this or don’t do that’.’
‘You’ve got to be so careful, because there’s been a lot of that,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to preach, I want to find solutions.’
The royal father-of-three looked engaged as he learned about the sustainable dye company on Thursday
The next Earthshot awards will be held in Brazil in November, with a host of celebrities including Sir David Beckham, Heidi Klum, Billy Porter, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin.
The event is being held ahead of COP30, the UN environmental summit, which the Prince also hopes to attend.
Announcing this year’s location, William, the founder and president of the Earthshot Prize, said: ‘We need urgent optimism now more than ever, and I think Brazil epitomises that.’
He added: ‘We are seeing fresh momentum for new ideas to create healthier and safer ways to live our lives.
‘It is an honour to profile the people making our world a better place for us and for our children.’
It comes after the Prince of Wales joined the King and Queen as the Royal Family turned out in force for the second day of Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Looking relaxed and in his element, Prince William was pictured enjoying what appeared to be a Pimm’s after putting on an animated display while watching the races.
Arriving at the annual occasion, the father-of-three sat beside Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud, a member of the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and opposite Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, as they made their way to the Berkshire racecourse by carriage.
William and Cate appeared in high spirits as they toured the2023 Earthshot prize finalist Colorifix
His appearance in the royal procession came after the Princess of Wales pulled out of attending the prestigious five-day meet at the last minute as she continues to ‘find the right balance’ following her battle with cancer.
Racegoers had been hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate as William was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during day two of the festival.
Ascot officials had announced in a published list at 12pm that the Princess was due to be with William in the second carriage in the royal procession – which is marking its 200th anniversary this year.
But less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed just before 12.30pm that Kate would not be attending – and a revised carriage list was published by Ascot.
MailOnline understands the Princess was ‘disappointed’ not to be in attendance ‘but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements’.
However, Kate’s mother Carole Middleton did attend yesterday – alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate’s brother James Middleton.
The 43-year-old Princess has been making a gradual return to public duties since it was announced in January that she was in remission from cancer.
But in the past week she has attended three high-profile events – Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London.
The pair learned how Colorfix identifies the DNA code that produces pigment to produce sustainable dyes
The King and Queen were joined at Wednesday’s event by Zara and Mike Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Charles also hosted Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of his late aunt Princess Margaret and a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was joined on the fourth carriage with her artist husband, Daniel Chatto.
Despite her closeness to Her late Majesty, Lady Sarah is known for keeping a low profile, and while she’s attended Ascot in the past, she’s not regularly seen with the royal family, aside from a handful of key events.
The King and Queen, both fans of racing, were also joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Ascot, known as the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, will welcome hundreds of thousands of punters during the five-day meet.
On Wednesday, the King and Queen enjoyed a day at the races as they welcomed the girlfriend of the Princess Royal’s son to the royal fold.
Charles and Camilla hosted guests in the royal box on the first day of Royal Ascot including the monarch’s nephew Peter Phillips and his partner, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.
She made an appearance for the first time in the carriage procession the royal family make onto the famous Berkshire racecourse to signal the start of the day.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition begun during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and Queen rode in the first carriage with Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi royal family, and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen’s official companions.
Behind them travelled the Princess Royal with Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington and they were followed by a coach carrying Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his girlfriend.
Other royals spotted among the crowds included Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York and Zara and Mike Tindall.
The King and his wife have continued Queen Elizabeth II’s close association with the Berkshire race meet but they had no luck with the sport of Kings when their horse Reaching High was well beaten in the Ascot Stakes.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
