The Duke of Cambridge is photographed in London with giant Chinese basketball star Yao Ming as part of a new wildlife campaign.

The Duke of Cambridge has teamed up with giant basketball star Yao Ming and David Beckham to record two video campaigns against illegal wildlife products.

William was photographed with Beckham and the retired Chinese basketball star, who at 7ft 6in is one of the tallest players in NBA history.

At the 2000 Olympics, Yao formed one third of "The Walking Great Wall", along with his fellow towering team mates Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer.

The Duke (L) with Yao Ming and David Beckham

The 33-year-old, from Shanghai, went on to play for the Houston Rockets in the NBA.

He announced his retirement in 2011 following a series of foot and ankle injuries but remains a superstar in China.

William, Yao and Beckham recorded the public service announcements in London on behalf of the organisation WildAid.

The messages will be broadcast globally in November, but their target audiences are in China and Vietnam, countries which have large markets for illegal wildlife products.

The three are urging consumers not to purchase rhino horn, ivory, and shark fin.

"At the root of the illegal wildlife trade is the demand for products that require the deaths of tens of thousands of these animals every year, pushing them further towards extinction," the Duke of Cambridge said.

In China a “one off” legal sale of ivory in 2009 has stimulated a renewed market triggering increased poaching in Africa, according to WildAid.

"We must reduce demand if we are going to save these animals," Yao said.

"We made tremendous progress reducing demand for shark fin soup through a similar campaign and a government ban at banquets is also helping. Traders say shark fin demand has been cut by 50% or more. I hope we can do the same for ivory and rhino horn."