Prince William has expressed his excitement about visiting Brazil for the first time, following “a number of conversations” about his trip with the King. As he prepares to attend his fifth annual Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro and deliver a keynote speech at COP30 on behalf of the monarch and the UK Government, a source confirmed that he has been in discussions with his father regarding his speech.
“The King takes a keen interest in the Earthshot Prize and what the Prince is building,” said the source. “The King has read the Prince’s speech. They have been talking about it, and given that it’s such a shared topic they feel extremely passionate about, I’m sure there have been many conversations over recent months.”
As he departed the UK, Prince William stated:
“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.”
The future King’s ambitious £50 million, 10-year prize programme is now at the midway point of a critical decade aimed at slowing the rate of climate change. He added:
“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.”
Ahead of his arrival, Stephanie Al-Qaq, the UK’s ambassador to Brazil, shared her enthusiasm:
“I think it’s maybe an understatement to say that Brazilians are excited about having His Royal Highness here.”
The royal family is “incredibly well known” in Brazil, she said, noting that people there are familiar with his father.
“Obviously, he’s been here for quite a number of visits, but they’re very excited about this because it’s the next generation. He comes with a slightly different message to his father, and I think we’re seeing with the Earthshot Prize that a lot of that really resonates with younger people as well, so they are very excited.”
Regarding the Prince’s role as a global statesman, she added:
“To me, it seems that he is more than ready to step into that space. He’s a very credible voice. Our royal family has quite a unique voice globally, and even more unique on this subject.”
During his time in Rio, the future King will visit the iconic Maracanã Stadium to engage in a Generation Earthshot event with young people from across the region, alongside Brazilian football legend Cafu. The youngsters are participating in a three-day programme in Rio de Janeiro designed to help them develop skills to become climate leaders.
Prince William will also deliver a landmark speech at the United for Wildlife Global Summit. This event will bring together key figures from the private sector, philanthropists, and indigenous and community leaders to focus on combating environmental crime.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/865165/prince-william-conversations-with-king-charles-before-brazil-trip-revealed/
