The Prince of Wales was treated like a King as he kicked off his three-day official visit to Rio de Janeiro today with a visit to one of its most famous landmarks.
The heir to the throne got the scenic cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain for a birds-eye view of the sights.
William, 43, was met by Mayor Eduardo Paes who afforded him the rare honour of presenting him with the keys to the city.
This is something normally only given each year to ‘King Momo’, the King of the Rio Carnival.
William was greeted by a local band, Trio Julio, before being given a tour of the sights and posing for a photograph with the famous Christ the Redeemer statue behind him.
The royal has arrived in Brazil to mark three days of events leading up to his prestigious environmental awards on Wednesday, The Earthshot Prize.
His first visit to the Latin American country also celebrates 200-years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Brazil after it secured independence from Portugal.
Among the issues that both sides are keen to highlight are nature protection, sustainable development and cultural exchange.
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes speaks with Prince William, Prince of Wales on a visit to Sugarloaf Mountain during day one of his visit to Brazil
He was treated like a King as he kicked off his three-day official visit to Rio de Janeiro today with a visit to one of its most famous landmarks
The Prince of Wales waves on day one of his visit to Brazil for the annual Earthshot Prize Awards
William and Mayor Paes also plan to discuss the importance of having his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Brazil given the work the country is doing to fight against the climate crisis.
Rising 396 m (1,299 ft) above the Guanabara Bay, 600-million-year-old Sugarloaf Mountain is a protected natural monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is named after the conical moulds of sugar shipped during the heyday of Brazil’s sugarcane trade.
On Thursday, William 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.
William poses for pictures with royal fans in Rio de Janeiro
William was greeted by a local band, Trio Julio, before being given a tour of the sights and posing for a photograph with the famous Christ the Redeemer statue behind him
William will also take in some of Rio’s iconic beaches, alongside engagements to understand the biodiversity of the city
‘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.
Although many engagements cannot be revealed in advance for security reasons, it can be revealed that William has viewed 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.
William poses for pictures with royal fans in Rio de Janeiro
It can be revealed that William has viewed the world-famous Christ the Redeemer, the 125 foot Art Deco statue that towers over the area from Corcovado Mountain
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.
Prince William is undertaking a number of engagements related to the environment in Rio De Janeiro ahead of his attendance at the fifth annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. He is pictured here visiting the Sugarloaf Mountain during day one of his visit to Brazil
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.’
