Prince William has microplastic filter from Bristol fitted to washing machines at home

The Prince of Wales arrived in Bristol today for a visit highlighting the city's position at the forefront of sustainable technology and scientific innovation.

Prince William's first stop was at 'Matter', a Bristol-based company and 2025 Earthshot Prize finalist, where he witnessed their groundbreaking filtration technology designed to prevent microplastics from entering Britain's waterways.

The company demonstrated how their system captures harmful microfibres before they reach the water supply.

The visit held particular significance, as founder Adam's entrepreneurial journey began with a £250 grant from the Prince's Trust more than eight years ago.

Prince William has already installed the filtration system in his own household, purchasing it at full price, and the systems are now being rolled out across all royal palaces.

During a demonstration of machinery that removes microfibres during textile manufacturing, the Prince expressed his dismay at the volume of waste produced.

"I'm genuinely horrified," he said, watching the waste accumulate. "It's absolutely atrocious that we allow that. Companies must have known how much stuff they are washing away."

The Prince then travelled to the University of Bristol to visit Isambard-AI, the UK's most powerful supercomputer.

The machine possesses extraordinary processing power, capable of completing in one second what would take the entire human population 80 years.

Scientists demonstrated how the supercomputer is being used to develop treatments for heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer, as well as to predict extreme weather events.

His Royal Highness also viewed a paracanoe seat developed for Paralympic champion Emma Wiggs MBE, who won gold and silver at Paris 2024.

The innovative seat, made using digital tools and embedded sensors, is five times stiffer yet lighter than traditional designs, significantly improving power transfer and speed.

The Prince concluded his visit by meeting founders of two start-ups led by University of Bristol graduates, both working to improve lives for people with disabilities and those living with dementia.

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