Prince William and Cate Blanchett Slip on Lab Coats at a Science Lab to Learn About Sustainable Fashion

Prince William and Cate Blanchett took a break from their day jobs to visit a science lab focused on sustainable fashion in Norwich, England.

The pair teamed up on Thursday, June 19, to check in on 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist Colorifix, which is a U.K.-based company that creates sustainable dye for clothing. William, 42, and Blanchett, 56, sported lab coats during their hands-on visit and appeared to have fun, laughing and learning about the company’s latest technology.

The prince launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020 after years of development to help find solutions to some of the environmental problems plaguing the world. Blanchett, meanwhile, is on the Earthshot Prize Council.

During the duo’s tour of the facilities, they witnessed a step-by-step demonstration of how Colorifix has perfected the process of identifying a color found naturally in the wild. The company then uses DNA sequencing to find the color in the genetics of the organism, plant or animal before being taken to a dye house to grow the color via fermentation.

The whole process cuts down on the use of any petrochemicals and has been employed by brands such as H&M, Pangaia and Vollebak.

Throughout the day, William and Blanchett were also shown what it takes for Colorifix to identify the DNA code that creates the pigment and then attach the dye liquid to the fabric. While the process takes time, it reportedly saves water, energy and carbon emissions.

William’s outing with the Blue Jasmine actress comes one day after he attended the Royal Ascot horse meeting solo. His wife, Princess Kate Middleton, was set to attend but had to change her plans last minute, Us Weekly confirmed.

Kate, 43, intended to step out for day 2 of the annual event on Wednesday, June 18, with William as part of the royal procession before the start of the races. The day’s lineup was revised to show that William would ride with King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud in one carriage instead.

Kate’s absence comes following her cancer battle last year. In March 2024, the Princess of Wales publicly shared that she’d been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. The illness led to Kate stepping back from many of her public-facing duties.

In January, she announced she is in remission and gave a “heartfelt thanks” to “all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything.”

“We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional,” Kate said in an Instagram statement at the time. “It is a relief to now be in remission. And I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”

Since then, Kate has upped her public appearances, with Wednesday’s royal ascot being the only event she’s missed so far this year amid her recovery.