Giving the Planet the Royal Treatment

Once upon a time he was the prince of hearts. Now is he the planet's prince?

The buzz in Britain is that Prince William is following in his dad's eco-friendly footsteps, showing an interest in saving the planet. (Prince Charles is a vocal advocate of combating climate change and improving environmental education.)

For his first official museum opening (no doubt the first of many), 27-year-old Prince William opted to cut the ribbon at the new Darwin Center at London's Natural History Museum Tuesday. The center includes examples of 20 million different plants and insects, including a tarantula named Sarah who gave the heir to the throne – are you listening, Kate Middleton? – "sweaty palms," according to the UK's The Telegraph. 

"With so many issues facing the planet at this time, we are thrilled," museum director Dr. Michael Dixon said in a statement about the royal visit. "We hope that Prince William will be the first of many visitors who will leave with a real sense of awe and wonder at nature, a better understanding of why the work of the Natural History Museum is so relevant, now more than ever, and be inspired to share in our collective responsibility over the future of the planet."

This isn't the first time the heir to the throne has shown an interest in the planet. In December 2005, he became a patron of the Tusk Trust, an African conservation charity.

He's also building a six-bedroom eco-friendly "starter-palace" in Herefordshire, near England's border with Wales. Among its features: solar heating and a rainwater reservoir.

Fit for a (green) king!

Photo courtesy Bianconero UK via Flickr.