Community

The King’s Foundation honours young environmental activist Jack Harries among 35 changemakers under 35

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 12:10AM UTC

To mark its 35th anniversary, the King’s Foundation celebrates 35 under-35 changemakers, including environmental activist Jack Harries, recognising the rising influence of social media-savvy youth leaders in climate advocacy and creative sectors.

The King's Foundation has recently unveiled a list of 35 "changemakers" under the age of 35 to celebrate its 35th anniversary. This initiative, originally established as the Prince's Foundation, aims to consolidate various charitable endeavours initiated by King Charles since the early 1990s. The foundation distinguishes itself from the King’s Trust, which provides support to vulnerable youth aged 11 to 30. The individuals selected for this recognition are noted for their significant contributions across diverse creative sectors and their potential to lead in their respective fields.

Among the honourees is Jack Harries, a prominent environmental activist and filmmaker who gained notoriety for his participation in protests linked to Extinction Rebellion. Harries, now 31, has cultivated a substantial following of over 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube, through which he has elevated environmental discourse. His involvement in activism includes a notable 2019 incident where he was arrested for gluing himself to the door of a hotel during the International Petroleum Week conference in London. This protest was designed to disrupt an event attended by industry leaders in the oil and gas sector, highlighting the environmental destruction attributed to fossil fuels.

The protest itself was emblematic of Extinction Rebellion’s broader agenda to demand urgent action on climate change. Harries and eight other activists were initially charged with aggravated trespass and criminal damage; however, they were ultimately acquitted. The Deputy Chief Magistrate ruled in their favour, affirming the importance of legal protections for peaceful protest in the UK. This decision has underscored the movement's commitment to nonviolent direct action as a legitimate means of addressing climate issues.

Reflecting on his path to activism, Harries has commented on the difficulties of mobilising friends and family for protests, indicating that many found such actions overwhelming. “We spent a few years going on Extinction Rebellion protests, but our friends and family didn't want to go on the marches; it all felt a bit extreme,” he explained. Following his arrest, Harries, alongside his twin brother Finn, co-founded Earthrise Studio, a media company dedicated to producing content focused on climate issues.

This recognition by the King’s Foundation signals a shift in how figures within the environmental movement are perceived, especially those like Harries, whose approach blends social media influence with activism. By placing emphasis on young leaders, the Foundation appears to acknowledge the crucial role that the next generation will play in confronting the challenges posed by climate change.

As Harries continues to use his platform to inspire action, he has interviewed prominent figures such as Sir David Attenborough, reinforcing the interconnectedness of celebrity influence and environmental advocacy. His journey serves as a testament to the potential for creative thought leaders to drive social change, particularly in an era marked by urgent climate crises. While Harries's past actions may have sparked controversy, they highlight the growing urgency for disruptive and meaningful dialogues around environmental issues—an aim shared by the King's Foundation in honouring innovative young changemakers.

In a landscape where climate activism is often met with both support and criticism, Harries stands as a notable example of how the blending of creativity, media, and activism can contribute to a foundational shift in societal perspectives on environmental stewardship. The recognition from the King's Foundation offers a platform for these young leaders to further their impact and inspire future generations to engage in essential conversations about our planet’s future.

Reference Map:

Paragraph 1: Sources (1)
Paragraph 2: Sources (1), (2), (5)
Paragraph 3: Sources (3), (6)
Paragraph 4: Sources (1), (4)
Paragraph 5: Sources (1), (7)
Paragraph 6: Sources (1), (2)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2054214/king-charles-foundation-extinction-rebellion-jack-harries - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/27/extinction-rebellion-activists-arrested-outside-london-oil-conference - In February 2019, nine Extinction Rebellion activists, including filmmaker Jack Harries, were arrested for peacefully protesting outside the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel in London during the International Petroleum Week conference. The protesters glued themselves to the hotel's glass front doors to disrupt the event attended by oil and gas industry leaders. The Metropolitan Police arrested the activists on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage. The protest aimed to highlight the oil and gas industry's role in environmental destruction and to call for urgent action on climate change.
https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/right-peaceful-protest-acquittal-extinction-rebellion-protesters-magistrates-court - In October 2019, Jack Harries and eight other Extinction Rebellion activists were acquitted of charges related to their peaceful protest during the International Petroleum Week in London. The activists had glued their hands to the doors of the Intercontinental Hotel to disrupt the conference. The prosecution dropped the criminal damage charge after cross-examination, and the Deputy Chief Magistrate found Harries and four others not guilty of aggravated trespass. The case highlighted the legal protections for peaceful protest in the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/14/social-media-influencer-jack-harries-extinction-rebellion-urges-young-people-to-protest-over-environment - In November 2018, Jack Harries, a social media influencer with over 4 million YouTube subscribers, participated in an Extinction Rebellion protest in London. The protest aimed to bring attention to environmental issues and involved activists holding a 68-meter banner over Westminster Bridge with the message 'Climate change: we're f***ed'. Harries emphasized the importance of young people using their voices to address environmental destruction and expressed his willingness to leverage his social media influence to inspire action on climate change.
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2019/02/27/breaking-filmmaker-jack-harries-among-8-arrested-as-extinction-rebellion-disrupt-international-petroleum-week-activists-glued-to-hotel-doors/ - On February 27, 2019, Extinction Rebellion activists, including filmmaker Jack Harries, disrupted the International Petroleum Week conference in London by gluing themselves to the doors of the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel. The protest aimed to draw attention to the oil and gas industry's role in environmental degradation. Nine activists were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage. The action was part of Extinction Rebellion's broader campaign to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its impact on the climate crisis.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/15/youtuber-activist-jack-harries-celebrates-found-not-guilty-arrest-supports-jane-fonda-10921894/ - In October 2019, Jack Harries, a YouTuber and climate activist, celebrated being found not guilty after his arrest during a peaceful protest at the International Petroleum Week in London. Harries and eight others had glued themselves to the doors of the Intercontinental Hotel to disrupt the conference. The prosecution dropped the criminal damage charge, and the Deputy Chief Magistrate found Harries and four others not guilty of aggravated trespass. Harries expressed support for fellow activist Jane Fonda, who was also arrested for climate protests.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/04/22/amanpour-jack-harriesclimate-change-extinction-rebellion.cnn - In April 2019, Jack Harries appeared on CNN's 'Amanpour' to discuss the Extinction Rebellion movement and his personal experience with climate protests. Harries described climate protests as a 'fire alarm' to alert society to the urgency of the climate crisis. He shared insights into the motivations behind the movement and the importance of nonviolent direct action in raising awareness about environmental issues. The interview highlighted the role of activists like Harries in bringing attention to the need for immediate action on climate change.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative mentions current events and recent recognitions, indicating it is likely recent. However, the lack of specific dates or events from the past few months makes it slightly less certain.

Quotes check

Score: 5

Notes: There is a quote from Jack Harries, but it could not be verified as the earliest known reference. The quote seems plausible but lacks a specific source or date.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Express, which is known but not always considered a highly reliable source due to its sensationalist nature. However, the content seems factual and informative.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about Jack Harries and the King's Foundation are plausible, aligning with known facts about environmental activism and the foundation's activities. The narrative logically connects these elements.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative appears to be generally factual and recent, with plausible claims about environmental activism and the King's Foundation. However, the lack of verification for the quote and the mixed reliability of the source lead to a medium confidence rating.

King's Foundation
environmental activism
Jack Harries
climate change
Extinction Rebellion
youth leadership