Prince William is being used as a "power tool of soft diplomacy" by the British Government, it has been claimed.
Speaking at the Royal Society in London today, the Prince of Wales called for an "urgent need" for action on drug-resistant superbugs, as the world is at a "crucial juncture".
In his first engagement since being honoured with the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps by King Charles, GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker said the royal "wants to raise awareness" of the issue.
Cameron explained: "William was talking about a very serious topic this afternoon, and I see this is a bit of a situation where the British government is using Prince William as a power tool of soft diplomacy."
Cameron Walker says Prince William is being used by the Government for 'soft diplomacy'
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Detailing the cause of which the Prince of Wales is drawing a call to action, Cameron said "almost five million people die every single year across the world from causes associated with antimicrobial resistance".
He noted that William "wants to raise awareness of the prediction that by 2050, the global death toll each year will rise to 10 million".
Discussing the Prince's speech today at the Royal Society, Cameron also revealed that behind the scenes, this has become a "growing concern" for William.
He also revealed that this is the first time the future King has spoken publicly about the issue of antimicrobial resistance.
The Prince of Wales gave a keynote speech an event at the Royal Society in London
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Cameron said of William's keynote speech: "He called for unity and action on this issue. It comes as the Government has pledged £85million to support the international community in tackling this growing threat.
"It has been a growing concern of his. He, of course, was an RAF search and rescue pilot. He was an air ambulance pilot as well for East Anglia, and he saw how antibiotics and medicines can really help, but also the rising threat of this problem."
"So Prince William is a bit on the war footing as it were, on this particular global issue today."
Speaking to experts and Government ministers today, Prince William said: "Rivers are polluted with antibiotics and oceans are filled with micro-plastics containing resistant bacteria. Meanwhile, deforestation is playing havoc with ecosystems facilitating the emergence of new infectious diseases.
Cameron Walker says William is 'on the war footing' on this particular global issue
GB News
"Unless we act now and together, the ripple effects of drug resistance will be felt across generations, jeopardising the wellbeing of our children and our grandchildren."
William concluded his speech stating: "Today, I call upon you once more to act.
"To create a real legacy in 2024, for the sake of the millions affected by AMR now, and for the sake of the generations that will follow."
