The Prince of Wales explained he had been ‘reliving’ the beloved BBC programme

Prince William shared an unexpected family moment with comedian John Cleese at the Tusk Conservation Awards, revealing his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have recently begun watching the classic British comedy Fawlty Towers.

During the prestigious wildlife conservation event at the Savoy Hotel, the Prince of Wales approached Mr Cleese to express how much his family enjoys the 1970s sitcom.

The future King serves as royal patron of the Tusk Trust, which organises the yearly ceremony recognising African conservation efforts.

The prince’s lighthearted exchange with the comedy legend preceded a serious message about environmental protection that he would deliver to the assembled guests.

William told Mr Cleese and his wife, Jennifer Wade: “My children have just discovered Fawlty Towers, they literally love it, we’ve been having a lot of family laughs.”

The prince explained he had been “reminiscing” and “reliving” the beloved programme whilst watching with his children, describing the experience as “brilliant”.

Mr Cleese responded to William’s comments by explaining: “I always explain it’s about ‘who’s scared of who’ and kids pick that up immediately.”

Notable attendees at the ceremony included Zara Tindall with her husband Mike, plus William’s maternal cousins, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.

George, Charlotte and Louis ‘love Fawlty Towers’ as Prince William opens up to John Cleese | PA

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, a longstanding Tusk ambassador, also attended with his wife Sally Humphreys.

The conservation awards recognised three exceptional individuals working to protect African wildlife and habitats.

Kenyan head ranger Laban Mwangi received the Tusk Wildlife Ranger 2025 award for his dedication to wildlife protection.

Rahima Njaidi earned the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa after creating a community-driven forest preservation network in Tanzania.

Prince William and John Cleese stood beside each other at the Tusk Awards | PA

The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa went to Kumara Wakjira in recognition of his environmental work in Ethiopia.

These honours celebrate frontline conservationists whose efforts safeguard Africa’s natural heritage.

The awards highlight the crucial role of local leaders in protecting endangered ecosystems and species across the continent.

William delivered a stark environmental warning during his address to the gathering. He emphasised that “humanity thrives when nature is given the space to provide us with the clean air, water and food that we all require.”

John Cleese and Jennifer Cleese attend the 2025 Tusk Conservation Awards| GETTY

The prince stressed the importance of the award recipients’ knowledge and experience in motivating broader change. He urged continued support for their essential conservation efforts.

“If we all want to continue to enjoy and benefit from the wonders of the natural world we must not be the generation that stands by as wildlife and biodiversity disappears,” William cautioned.

He concluded by stating: “What we choose to do will have an impact on future generations, and tonight we must choose to do more.”