The Duke of Cambridge’s comments are the latest move in a “war” declared on poachers by the Prince and hailed as “extremely significant” in the fight against a trade that could see the rhinoceros and elephant become extinct.
Some 1200 items containing ivory are listed in the British royal collection, including a throne from India that once belonged to Queen Victoria which incorporates elephant-ivory plaques.
While some critics have detracted from the proposition, saying it is “pointless” and a “menacing response”, conservationists and government leaders have generally lauded the Prince’s stand.
“It’s difficult to imagine a stronger symbol of the horrors of ivory than Buckingham Palace publicly destroying its own,” Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith told The Independent on Sunday. “Good for Prince William for pushing this.”
Prince William intends for the move to encourage other heads of states to give up their own ivory stocks and collections.
Long a supporter of animal rights charities, the Duke has regularly delivered speeches on the issue and implored world leaders to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards the lucrative trade.
He is said to have requested that all ivory items in Clarence House be hidden from sight for years.
Last week William launched a new coalition called United for Wildlife. Made up of seven organisations, the goal of the group is to end the illegal wildlife trade.
Prince William said at the launch: “The forces that are currently destroying some of the world’s most endangered species are sophisticated and powerful, but this week we are seeing the creation of an equally powerful alliance, coming together to help fight them.”
On the back of that initiative 46 governments pledged to renounce the use of any products from species threatened by extinction, to support the commercial prohibition on the international trade in elephant ivory until the survival of elephants is no longer threatened by poaching, and to encourage countries to destroy their illegal stockpiles of ivory.
