Royal Podcast Partnership Highlights Critical Role of Millennium Seed Bank
King Charles III has partnered with Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett for a special podcast episode focusing on global biodiversity conservation. The 22-minute recording, titled 'Unearthed' and produced for the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, features the monarch and the Hollywood star alongside Dr. Elinor Breman, senior seed conservation researcher at Kew Gardens. The conversation, recorded in July at Windsor Castle, centers on the critical work of the Millennium Seed Bank, an institution the King originally opened in 2000 when he was Prince of Wales.
The Millennium Seed Bank, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, operates as a global safeguard against plant extinction caused by climate change and environmental threats. Located at Wakehurst in Sussex, the facility preserves biodiversity through advanced conservation techniques, cleaning, drying and storing seeds in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Since its establishment, the bank has secured nearly 2.5 billion seeds representing over 40,000 plant species, creating what scientists describe as an essential insurance policy against ecological collapse.
During the podcast discussion, Blanchett expressed shock at learning that 97 percent of wildflower meadows have been destroyed. "I don't think we really understand this because when we look around, we see immediately so much natural beauty," the actress noted. "But we don't think about how fragile it is." The Oscar winner, who serves as an ambassador for Wakehurst and supports Prince William's Earthshot Prize, emphasized the urgency of the seed bank's mission, stating that "the future of life on Earth could well depend on the seeds stored in this bank."
King Charles, who has been involved with the seed bank's progress since its inception and last visited in 2019, described the institution's work as crucial for preserving biodiversity for future generations. The monarch, who takes pride in his role as patron of Kew Gardens, acknowledged the need to accelerate conservation efforts, noting the significant damage sustained by flower-rich meadows. The royal podcast appearance marks another instance of the King using his platform to advance environmental causes, following decades of advocacy for sustainability and conservation initiatives.
