Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have paid tribute to Dame Jane Goodall following her death at the age of 91, calling the primatologist “a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us”.
In a statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: “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.”
Prince Harry and Jane Goodall pictured in 2019
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Harry, 41, developed a strong connection with Dame Jane through her Roots & Shoots Global Leadership youth programme and their mutual commitment to conservation.
In 2019, the Sussexes welcomed the primatologist to their former UK home, Frogmore Cottage, where she met their five-week-old son Archie and held him for the first time.
Dame Jane later recalled that she had “clicked” with the Duke of Sussex during their initial encounter at Kensington Palace in December 2018.
The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed the primatologist had died in California while on a speaking tour, saying she passed away from natural causes.
Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with conservationist Dame Jane Goodall in 2012
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It described her as a groundbreaking scientist and campaigner whose work “transformed science” and who fought relentlessly to protect the natural world.
Born in London in 1934, Dame Jane began her research on wild chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960. Her observation of a chimpanzee named David Greybeard making and using tools challenged long-held beliefs that only humans were capable of such behaviour.
Her decades-long study at Gombe Stream National Park became the longest-running field research project of its kind.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which continues to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, while also running global youth programmes. One of these, Roots and Shoots, launched in 1991 with a group of Tanzanian schoolchildren, has since expanded into more than 60 countries.
She received numerous honours throughout her life, including a damehood in 2004 and the role of UN Messenger of Peace in 2002, which she described as her most meaningful accolade. Earlier this year, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President Joe Biden.
Public figures from across the world have paid tribute. Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California, called Dame Jane “a legendary figure and a friend”, adding: “I admired her, learned from her, and was so honoured to get to spend time with her over the years.
“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.”
Greenpeace remembered her as a “tireless advocate” who inspired millions. Will McCallum, the organisation’s UK co-executive director, said: “We’re heartbroken to learn that Dr Jane Goodall has passed away. She was one of the true conservation giants of our time.
“We were lucky enough to host her at the Greenpeace Glastonbury field last year, where she charmed the audience with her vast knowledge of our primate cousins’ lives.
“Not only did her pioneering research transform our understanding of chimpanzees and their habitat, but she became 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. It’s now incumbent upon all of us to honour her legacy by continuing the fight to protect the world’s forests.”
Naturalist Chris Packham told BBC News her work was “revolutionary” and 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.”