Prince William Honours Donna Langley at BAFTAs
Prince William delivered an emotional speech at the BAFTA Film Awards as he presented the BAFTA Fellowship to Dame Donna Langley, praising her influence on British film and the wider entertainment industry. The Prince of Wales appeared on stage during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with Catherine, Princess of Wales seated nearby.
During his address, Prince William described Dame Donna as “exceptional” and highlighted her role as the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio, as well as her current position as chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, The Mirror reported.
The Prince said her “transformative leadership” and commitment to creative partnerships had brought major films to audiences worldwide, and he also pointed to initiatives she founded to widen access to careers in the screen arts and support women in leadership. He added that the UK’s creative industries are among the country’s greatest strengths and said he would continue to support the talent that helps them succeed globally in his role as President of BAFTA.
The appearance marked the royal couple’s first public outing since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, with Prince William telling guests he was not “in quite a calm state” at the moment and would delay watching the film “Hamnet”. It came as the Princess of Wales returned to the BAFTAs alongside Prince William following the news.
Dame Donna accepted the honour after a video tribute from colleagues, as the BAFTAs continued their annual celebration of film and the people working across the UK and international screen industries.
