Prince William is determined to firmly put the ongoing scandal around his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to one side as he arrives in Brazil today for a momentous royal week.
The heir to the throne will land in vibrant Rio de Janeiro for what friends say is his ‘favourite’ event of the year, his Earthshot Prize environmental awards.
And on Thursday he will fly to Belem, gateway to the Amazon rainforest, to represent his father, King Charles, at the COP30 United Nations climate change conference for the first time.
There he will give a ‘landmark’ speech alongside the Prime Minister, marking a significant step up for the future king as an international statesman.
Coming on the heels of some of the most damaging headlines the Royal Family has known since the death of William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, however, it will be a tough challenge for William, 43, to pull the focus back on his work.
But that, say friends, is what he is absolutely determined to do.
‘This is Prince William’s favourite moment of the year. This is what he does best. It means so much for all our community that he is here,’ said Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, a former Communications Secretary to the prince and no stranger to the sharp end of royal reporting himself.
In a statement to Hello! ahead of his arrival, William was also keen to make sure public interest was back on the matter in hand.
Prince William will land in vibrant Rio de Janeiro for what friends say is his ‘favourite’ event of the year, his Earthshot Prize environmental awards. He is pictured in June in his capacity as founder and president of the award
Prince William is determined to firmly put the ongoing scandal around his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, to one side (file image)
‘As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit. I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity and a sense of hope about the future. But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk. The Earthshot Prize is about turning the tide, about proving to our children that we are willing to fight for their tomorrow,’ he said.
The royal’s arrival in Rio will kick-start three days of engagements leading up to the awards themselves on Wednesday night.
It is his first official visit to Latin America and will see William visit some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, highlighting a cause he is deeply passionate about.
Although many engagements cannot be revealed in advance for security reasons, it can be revealed that he will view the world-famous Christ the Redeemer, the 125 foot Art Deco statue that towers over the area from Corcovado Mountain.
And he will also take in some of Rio’s iconic beaches, alongside engagements to understand the biodiversity of the city – and get his chance to show off his skills at the legendary Maracana football stadium.
In addition he will attend a United for Wildlife Global Summit and visit ‘Earthshot Boulevard’ a specially-created open-air experience and hub for public engagement in the city.
Coffee trucks will serve special Earthshot Macaw coffee made from sustainable beans in cups made from seaweed created by a previous winner, British company Notpla, which has seen its profile and business soar as a result of the prize.
The three-day lead up to main event will also see a spectacular drone show over Ipanema Beach, while stars including Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes are headlining the televised awards show itself.
Prince William reacts during a meeting with 2024 Earthshot Prize finalists at the ‘Leading with Impact’ event, as part of London Climate Action Week in June 2025
Earthshot is a ten-year initiative designed to highlight and scale-up some of the most innovative solutions to the world’s environmental and climate change challenges, offering five £1 million prizes each year over a decade.
The awards, arguably the most prestigious of their kind in the world, are now half-way through their ten-year challenge.
This year’s finalists were chosen out of nearly 2,500 nominees from 72 countries and include a Brazilian start-up restoring forests with the help of AI and British company Matter, which has developed a filter than can be fitted to washing machines to stop microplastics entering the oceans through laundry and waste water.
William is said to be a very ‘hands-on’ founder, attending meetings, brain storming, making connections behind the scenes and hitting the phones.
One company, ENSO, which makes environmentally friendly tyres for electric cars, now has worldwide deal with cab company Uber as a result of William personally introducing the two.
Knauf said: ‘Earthshot…was founded because this decade is critical – it is a window in which we still have time to act and because Prince William believed that it can be a great human success story.
‘The 2025 Earthshot Prize Summit in Rio de Janeiro is more than an event. It’s a collective call to action. A celebration of what humanity can achieve when we unite behind urgent optimism and bold solutions.’
Later in the week the heir to the throne will travel to Belem, gateway to the Amazonian rainforest, to represent his father for the first time at the COP30 UN Climate Change Summit.
William is attending the event without his wife, the Princess of Wales, who remains at home in Windsor with their children who are returning to school after the half-term holiday. Pictured: William in June in his capacity as founder and president of the award
It a significant scaling-up of his own presence on the international stage and will see him stand alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who will also attend the Earthshot awards in Rio.
British Ambassador to Brazil, Stephanie Al-Qaq, said the heir to the throne’s visit came at a ‘moment rich in symbolism and substance’ as the UK marks 200 years of diplomatic relations with the Latin American nation.
She added: ‘We are absolutely delighted that His Royal Highness is going to be joining us. There is huge interest in the British Royal Family here and he is speaking to a younger generation.’
William is attending without his wife, the Princess of Wales, who remains at home in Windsor with their children who are returning to school after the half-term holiday.
Speaking as he departed from London, William said: ‘As I depart for Rio de Janeiro, I am excited for my first visit and to experience Brazil’s vibrant culture, its extraordinary biodiversity, and above all, the warmth of its people.
‘With the world’s eyes turning to Brazil this week, there is no better place to celebrate bold climate leadership. Hosting The Earthshot Prize allows us to not only recognise those driving change, but to be inspired by them. When we work together with optimism and courage, a more sustainable future is within our reach.’
