Prince William meets young environmentalists and plays rugby on first day of South Africa visit Boston 25 News [Video]

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — (AP) — Britain’s Prince William offered words of encouragement to a group of young environmentalists and later joined a rugby practice at a local school as he opened a visit to South Africa on Monday that will focus heavily on climate change and conservation.

The Prince of Wales will have four days of engagements in Cape Town, during which he’ll see his annual Earthshot Prize award $1.2 million in grants to five organizations for innovative environmental ideas. The awards ceremony will take place in a 470-foot-long reusable dome that will be packed up and taken away after the event.

The Earthshot awards on Wednesday night are the centerpiece of William’s trip to South Africa’s second-biggest city. But the 42-year-old heir to the throne will also attend a global wildlife summit, visit a botanical garden on the slopes of Cape Town’s landmark Table Mountain, spend time at a sea rescue base and meet with a local fishing community.

The prince …