Prince William and Princess Kate have been awarded a prestigious new honour in the United States, having been named among the world’s most influential figures in this year’s TIME100 Philanthropy list.
Included in the “Innovators” category, Prince William and Princess Kate are celebrated by TIME magazine for transforming royal philanthropy with a forward-thinking approach that prioritises social impact over tradition. The 2025 list highlights “the 100 most influential people shaping the future of giving at a pivotal moment.”
The publication commended the royal couple for being “less concerned with cultural preservation and more attuned to social issues,” citing their work in mental health awareness, environmental sustainability, and efforts to end homelessness through their Royal Foundation.
TIME also praised the Waleses for “aligning social imperatives with sound business strategies and building corporate alliances to expand their reach.”
Princess Kate’s Business Taskforce
One such initiative is Princess Kate’s Business Taskforce, which recently released a report showing that investments in early childhood development could boost the UK economy by an estimated £45.5 billion annually.
As a direct result of the Taskforce’s work, several major UK companies have announced significant policy changes. For example, Deloitte UK has updated its parental leave policy to offer 26 weeks of fully paid leave to all new parents.
The article included a disclosure noting that TIME’s co-chairs, Marc and Lynne Benioff, have previously supported the couple’s Royal Foundation.
“A Smaller R in Royal” – A New Generation of Leadership
In a speech delivered last November during the Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town, Prince William outlined his vision for a more modern, empathetic monarchy.
“I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently—for my generation,” he explained. “I’m doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like—that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”
He continued: “It’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, and helping people. I’m also going to throw empathy in there because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with more empathetic leadership around the world.”
Other high-profile names featured on the TIME100 Philanthropy 2025 list include David Beckham, Oprah Winfrey, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Melinda French Gates, Dolly Parton, and Michael Sheen.
