LONDON — Prince William's Earthshot Prize, a prominent global environmental initiative, has been thrust into controversy following a complaint filed with the UK's Charity Commission over ties between one of its founding partners and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The anti-monarchy group Republic reported the charity on Wednesday, citing recently released U.S. Department of Justice files that name Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the CEO of DP World, as having corresponded with Epstein during his 2009 imprisonment in Palm Beach, Florida. The complaint highlights an email Epstein sent to bin Sulayem in April 2009, which read: "Where are you? are you ok , I loved the torture video."
Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William in 2020, aims to award five winners annually for innovative solutions to environmental challenges, with prizes totaling £50 million over a decade. DP World, a Dubai-based logistics giant, was among the initial partners recruited by the prince before the organization's debut. According to Republic, DP World has donated at least $1.3 million to the charity. The group argues that the connection raises serious questions about due diligence in accepting such funding, especially given the high-profile nature of Epstein's scandals involving sex trafficking and abuse of minors.
Republic's CEO, Graham Smith, issued a strongly worded statement in the press release announcing the complaint. "William has lots of questions to answer about what he knew about Andrew and Epstein," Smith said, referring to Prince Andrew, William's uncle, who has long been linked to Epstein and was stripped of his royal titles by King Charles III in October 2023 amid ongoing scrutiny. Smith continued, "And now he must explain his relationship with Sulayem." He emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "It is not credible to believe the Foreign Office, security services or other advisors were not aware of Sulayem's character and would have been able to advise accordingly. These files have been in the hands of U.S. authorities for years. It's not believable that such intelligence would not have been shared."
Earthshot has a duty to do due diligence, to ask questions about donors and where money is coming from. Did they do that here? If so, did William overrule their better judgment? In the context of this widening scandal, we need answers. — Graham Smith, CEO of Republic
The complaint comes amid a fresh wave of Epstein-related disclosures. The latest batch of files, unsealed in recent weeks, has renewed public and media interest in Epstein's network, which included high-profile figures from politics, business, and royalty. Prince Andrew, in particular, has faced intense backlash; photographs released in the files show him in compromising situations, and he settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by one of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, without admitting liability. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Prince William himself has not been named in any Epstein documents, and representatives for Buckingham Palace and Earthshot Prize did not immediately respond to requests for comment from various outlets. However, the prince and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, issued a statement through a spokesperson to the BBC on Monday, expressing concern over the ongoing revelations. "They have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations," the spokesperson said. "Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich praised the couple's response as a sign of principled leadership. Speaking to reporters, Fordwich said, "This is a clear indication of Prince William’s leadership skills, getting out in front of this issue, doing what is right, which is to be focusing on the plight of victims." She noted that the statement underscores the Waleses' commitment to supporting those affected by Epstein's crimes, distancing themselves from the scandal's periphery.
In contrast, Ian Pelham Turner, another royals commentator, dismissed the complaint as an overreach by Republic, which has long campaigned for the abolition of the monarchy. Turner told Fox News Digital that the group is "using Sulayem's ties to Epstein to dissolve the royal family entirely." He added, "I think it is a bit of a stretch though to suggest the Epstein debacle that Sultan Ahmed donated money through this connection. The money has now been donated to the prizewinning recipients in a proper manner and so I feel Republic is seeking any mud to stick to the Royal family to maximize their strategy that the Royal family should be a thing of the past and dissolved."
Turner suggested that Prince William could easily address the Charity Commission's inquiry by providing evidence of proper vetting processes. "How will William handle this with the Charity commissioners simply by producing evidence to the contrary," he said. The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, confirmed receipt of the complaint but has not yet announced any formal investigation. Under UK law, such reports trigger a review to assess whether there are grounds for further action, potentially including an examination of governance and financial transparency.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Earthshot's growing international profile. The prize's 2022 Innovation Showcase in Dubai featured a meeting between Prince William and bin Sulayem, where the two discussed environmental initiatives. Images from the event show the prince engaging cordially with the DP World executive, highlighting the partnership's role in amplifying the charity's reach. Earthshot has since awarded grants to projects worldwide, from mangrove restoration in the Maldives to plastic waste reduction in Ghana, with winners selected by a panel including celebrities like Emma Watson and tech leaders.
DP World, for its part, has not publicly commented on the Epstein connection or the complaint. The company, which operates ports and logistics networks across 40 countries, positions itself as a sustainability advocate, aligning with Earthshot's mission. Bin Sulayem's name appears in the Epstein files solely in reference to the 2009 email, with no allegations of wrongdoing against him. Epstein, serving a 13-month sentence at the time for soliciting prostitution from a minor, was known to maintain contacts with influential figures even from behind bars.
Republic's action is part of a broader pattern of scrutiny on the royal family's associations. The group has previously criticized Prince Andrew's Epstein links and called for investigations into other royals' finances. Smith reiterated in his statement that "the seriousness of this matter requires a full and comprehensive investigation," urging the Charity Commission to probe whether Earthshot conducted adequate checks on its donors. Critics of the monarchy argue that such incidents erode public trust in institutions funded by taxpayers and private contributions.
Supporters of Earthshot, however, emphasize the charity's tangible impact. Since its inception, it has distributed millions to environmental causes, fostering innovation amid the climate crisis. The organization's annual awards ceremonies, held in cities like Singapore and Cape Town, draw global attention and partnerships from corporations and philanthropists. The Epstein link, while unsettling, represents a fraction of the prize's operations, according to insiders who spoke anonymously.
As the Charity Commission deliberates, the episode highlights the challenges facing high-profile philanthropies in navigating donor histories. For Prince William, who has positioned environmentalism as a cornerstone of his public role, the scrutiny tests the resilience of his initiatives. The prince, second in line to the throne, has increasingly focused on issues like conservation and mental health, seeking to modernize the monarchy's image. Whether this complaint leads to reforms in donor vetting or fades as political theater remains to be seen.
In the wider context of Epstein's legacy, the files' release continues to ripple through elite circles. Victims' advocates have welcomed the transparency, hoping it prompts accountability. For the royal family, already grappling with health challenges—Catherine underwent cancer treatment earlier this year—and public approval fluctuations, the timing could not be worse. Yet, as Fordwich noted, William's measured response may help steer the narrative toward empathy and reform rather than scandal.