It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but trophy hunting has a place, says William...

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but trophy hunting has a place, says William: Prince risks blundering into another row after ill-timed comments as he signs agreement to battle ivory trade. Prince William admitted supporting trophy hunting last night – just after unveiling a historic agreement aiming to stop the international trade in ivory and rhino horn. The 33-year-old royal was condemned after he said: 'There is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is round the world,' although he conceded: 'It's not everyone's cup of tea.' His ill-timed comments came as he unveiled a declaration at Buckingham Palace involving figures from conservation charities, airlines and shipping firms. It aims to fight smugglers trafficking endangered animals' parts for profit. William, president of United for Wildlife, has been the driving force behind the project aimed at plugging gaps being exploited by traffickers. But his work risks being overshadowed by an interview given to ITV News in which he was asked about trophy hunting. Asked how he 'squared' the practice with his 'passionate advocating of conservation', the future king believed there was a case for allowing old animals to be killed for sport. 'There is a place for commercial hunting in Africa as there is round the world. It's not everyone's cup of tea,' he said. 'But the arguments for regulated, properly-controlled commercial hunting is that the money that goes from shooting a very old infirm animal goes back into the protection of the other species. So when one is infertile, he's at the end of his life. A spokesman for the Born Free Foundation welcomed the prince's latest wildlife initiative but stressed that the royal's comments on trophy hunting were ill-judged. Chief executive Adam Roberts said: 'At this fragile time for so many wild animal species – elephants and rhinos in a poaching crisis; lions on a downward spiral across most of the continent – we should not be speaking about trophy hunting as a conservation tool. Hunters cause suffering for individual animals and contribute to threats imperilled species face. 'There is no need to justify or promote trophy hunting.' In his interview William warned that animals such as the rhino could be extinct within the next five to 10 years unless the world is able to get a grip on the crisis. He said he would love for his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to inherit his passion for wildlife, saying: 'I'd definitely like to see George and Charlotte in Africa – they'd have a wonderful time and I can see George being a bit of a bum out in the conservation world with his bangles and his sandals.' A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'It is important to note that he stressed that it is something he would never do himself. But a number of conservationists believe this is an important part of the mix to save these animals.' A royal source added: 'Privately, particularly in countries such as Namibia, the authorities are saying that the trophy-hunting industry is an important part of their conservation efforts.'