The Prince of Wales has long supported Tusk’s mission to strengthen African-led conservation

Prince William is celebrating the work of leading African conservationists this evening as he attends the 13th annual Tusk Conservation Awards in London.

The Prince of Wales arrived at the Savoy Hotel in London wearing a dashing blue suit, where he was supported by his paternal cousin, Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall, and William’s maternal cousins, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.

William, who is Royal Patron of Tusk and helped to launch the awards in 2013, met supporters, ambassadors and finalists before presenting three of the charity’s major honours.

The ceremony, held on Wednesday night, recognised individuals described by Tusk as among the most dedicated and forward-thinking conservation leaders working across the African continent.

The event opened and closed with performances from the London Assembly Gospel Choir.

Since the awards were created 11 years ago, 61 winners have received more than £2million in grants for their organisations.

The funding has helped scale conservation projects and bolster protection for more than 60 species, including endangered wildlife threatened by poaching, habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade.

The Prince presented the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa and the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.

Prince William honours African conservation leaders at Tusk Awards as he presents trio of major prizes | PA

Zara and Mike Tindall watching Prince William make his speech| PA

Each recipient received a trophy and significant grant funding to support their future work.

After the presentations, the Prince of Wales will deliver a short speech praising the resilience and leadership of the finalists.

He will speak about the importance of collaboration in conservation and highlight the expertise shared by rangers and community leaders working on the front line of environmental protection.

Lady Eliza Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer supporting their cousin, Prince William | GETTY

The Prince of Wales arrives for the Tusk Conservation Awards at The Savoy Hotel in central Londo | PA

Zara and Mike looked focused as they listened to the speech at the Savoy Hotel.

As Royal Patron, William has long supported Tusk’s mission to strengthen African-led conservation.

Earlier this year, he released a docuseries titled Guardians, which followed individuals working to protect wildlife in some of the continent’s most challenging environments.

The Prince of Wales greets Ronnie Wood as he arrives for the Tusk Conservation Awards | PA

Tusk describes its vision as an Africa where people and wildlife can co-exist and thrive.

The charity has generated more than £130million since 1990 to support over 250 partner organisations and ranger teams across more than 25 African countries.

The Prince’s appearance at the awards continues his long-standing involvement with Tusk and his public commitment to wildlife protection across Africa.