Prince William's 'number one choice' quits Earthshot Prize after £12m tax row

The Colombian pop star has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities.

Shakira said regarding the settlement in a statement: "This decision to reach a deal responds to personal, emotional and sentimental reasons that have nothing to do with legal [reasons].

"I have reached the conclusion that winning is not a victory if the price is that they rob you of so many years of your life."

Shakira has been an Earthshot Prize council member since its inception in 2020.

An announcement by Kensington Palace in September 2023, listed Shakira as a judge.

However, sources said that she had completed her term this year, according to The Times.

Fellow judges include Sir David Attenborough, the actress Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania of Jordan.

William previously said that Shakira was his top choice for his judging panel.

In 2021, the Prince of Wales joked during an interview with the BBC: "Shakira was my No.1 person on the list.

"We tried to get people who genuinely cared for the environment but were also influences around the world and Shakira has been brilliant at highlighting the plight of the oceans.

"She cares deeply about the pollution and she spends a lot of time at the beach.

"She’s a big surfer and her family, she wants them to enjoy the beach and other families to enjoy the water."

Shakira tweeted that she was "so humbled and happy to be part of" William's Earthshot Prize in 2020.

In 2021, the singer told Glamour Magazine: "Seeing Prince William’s passion and how genuinely determined he is to provoke change is very, very inspiring."

A spokesperson for Earthshot said: "Shakira completed her three-year term as a member of the Earthshot prize council in October.

"We are very grateful to her for her commitment to the prize, including through her participation in the 2021 landmark series.

"The prize council members’ terms are staggered to enable continuity alongside new additions."