Harry and Meghan lead tributes to 'friend to the planet' Dame Jane Goodall after her death

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Dame Jane Goodall, renowned conservationist and chimpanzee expert, who passed away at the age of 91. They described her as "a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us".

Dame Jane, recognised globally for her expertise on chimpanzee behaviour and her tireless efforts to protect their habitats, was in California on a speaking tour when she passed away from "natural causes".

Prince Harry, who had developed a close relationship with the celebrated primatologist, along with Meghan, released a joint statement on Wednesday. They fondly remembered how Dame Jane held their son, Prince Archie, as a newborn baby and "showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her".

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The Royal couple expressed their deep sorrow at her passing, stating: "Dr Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us.

"Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed."

In 2019, the Sussexes had welcomed Dame Jane to their then-residence, Frogmore Cottage, where she cuddled their baby son Archie, who was just five weeks old at the time.

The Duke later participated in a meeting of her Roots and Shoots youth empowerment project at Windsor Castle, and the two maintained contact over the years.

The conservationist fondly remembered their first meeting at Kensington Palace in December 2018, saying they had "clicked" instantly. Greenpeace, the global environmental campaign group, paid tribute to Dame Jane as a "tireless advocate" who inspired "millions".

Last year, the British primatologist took to the Greenpeace stage at Glastonbury Festival and delivered a powerful speech about the planet, loss of biodiversity and climate change, acknowledging that "young people are still losing hope".

Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, expressed his sorrow in a statement to the PA news agency: "We're heartbroken to learn that Dr Jane Goodall has passed away. She was one of the true conservation giants of our time."

He praised her "pioneering research" which transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and their habitat and hailed her as a "tireless advocate" for the protection of wildlife and forests, inspiring millions to act.

"Dr Goodall's legacy is not only in science but in the global movement she helped spark to protect nature and give hope for a better world," he added.

"It's now incumbent upon all of us to honour her legacy by continuing the fight to protect the world's forests."

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham described Dame Jane as "remarkable" and lauded her work as "revolutionary". Speaking to BBC News, he said: "To have lost a hero at a time when we need all of them on the front line fighting for the future of life on Earth, it is a tragedy."

Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, ex-US talk show presenter Ellen DeGeneres and imprisoned Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes were amongst the other prominent personalities who praised her lifetime of achievements.

Maria Shriver, California's former first lady, described her as "a legendary figure and a friend". She wrote on X: "She stayed at her mission and on her mission. She changed the world and the lives of everyone she impacted. The world lost one of its best today, and I lost someone I adored."

Born in London in 1934, Dame Jane started studying wild chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960. She reached Gombe Stream National Park beside Lake Tanganyika in July that year, during an era when it was unprecedented for a woman to venture into Africa's wilderness.

There she witnessed a chimpanzee called David Greybeard craft a tool from twigs and employ it to extract termites from their nest, a revolutionary discovery that questioned the understanding of humans as the only species able to create tools.

Her chimpanzee studies became the most extensive field research ever conducted on any wild animal group, and in 1977 she established the Jane Goodall Institute, which strives to safeguard the species and backs youth initiatives designed to help animals and the environment.

Dame Jane received her damehood from the then-Prince of Wales, now the King, in 2004 at Buckingham Palace, where she commended Charles for his position on GM foods. The primatologist revealed, however, that her most treasured honour was being appointed UN Messenger of Peace in 2002.

Among her more recent awards was the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented to her in January 2025 by then-US president Joe Biden.

Paying tribute to Dame Jane, a statement on the official X account of the UN declared: "Today, the UN family mourns the loss of Dr Jane Goodall. The scientist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature."

Harry spoke with the globally celebrated campaigner for Meghan's guest editing of Vogue magazine in 2019 when he revealed he would have only two children for the sake of the planet.

Dame Jane later disclosed, after the Sussexes departed the UK amid Megxit, that Harry had felt "constrained" by his Royal life and desperately wanted his son to grow up away from "pomp and royalty".

She also revealed in 2014 that Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, told her he would "like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed".

The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death in a statement on social media, saying: "The Jane Goodall Institute learned this morning, Wednesday 1 October 2025, that Dr Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away from natural causes.

"She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.

"Dr Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist transformed science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of the natural world."

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