Prince William breaks summer silence to mourn 1,400 fallen rangers

Prince William has paused his family’s summer holiday to issue a solemn message in honour of World Ranger Day. 

In a post shared on Thursday via his official social media channels and charity, United for Wildlife, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to rangers around the world who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

"1,400 rangers have died in the last ten years - that’s about two a week," the statement read. 

"They’re unseen and unheard of. So many of these cases get forgotten about, they don’t get reported, people don’t see them."

“We all care about our natural world, but we sometimes lose that connection with actually what it's like living and working in that space.”

Accompanying the message was a collage of names of rangers killed in service over the past decade. 

The post was captioned: “Every ranger remembered. Every legacy carried forward. We honour their sacrifice and recognise real and ongoing risks faced by those on the frontline of conservation. Their stories matter. Their mission lives on.”

His statement was dated May 20, 2025, echoing his earlier tribute made after two rangers were killed in Mozambique earlier this year.

At the time, William wrote: “This attack is yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world." 

"The reality is that being a ranger has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. My thoughts are with all those affected and their families.”

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