FHHRN
Prince William has followed in the footsteps of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, by visiting Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The future king posed for photographs against the city’s breathtaking skyline — just as his mother did in April 1991 during her tour of Brazil with then-Prince Charles.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson told reporters: “The Prince has loved meeting so many people from across Rio over the last few days. He’s been incredibly struck by the number of people who fondly remember his mother’s visit to this beautiful city.”
During the six-day royal tour in 1991, Charles and Diana visited Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, where Diana charmed locals and made global headlines during her walk on Copacabana Beach — the same location where her son played volleyball earlier this week. She also posed for the now-iconic photos at Christ the Redeemer, the 30-metre statue overlooking Rio from the 700-metre-high Corcovado Mountain.
During that same trip, the royal couple travelled to Belem, where Charles hosted an environmental seminar aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, anchored near the Amazonian city. Now, over three decades later, their son will return to Belem to deliver a landmark speech to world leaders at the COP30 climate summit.
While at Christ the Redeemer, Prince William met with the 2025 Earthshot Prize finalists and Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes. He was greeted by Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, Metropolitan Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, and Padre Omar Raposo, Guardian of The Sanctuary, who later guided him to the Chapel beneath the statue.
William was also introduced to two-month-old Maria Beatriz, affectionately known as Mabê, who was making her first visit to Christ the Redeemer with her parents, Rio de Janeiro’s deputy mayor Eduardo Cavaliere and his wife Victoria.
While chatting with the Earthshot finalists, the Prince spoke with Adam Root, founder and CEO of Matter, a British company whose invention filters microplastics from water expelled by washing machines and industrial systems, preventing them from reaching the ocean. William told him he planned to install the filters in washing machines across the royal palaces. “An amazing idea,” William said. “We’ll pay full price!” to which Adam replied, “We can definitely do that.”
Adam, from Essex, developed the first prototype at his mother-in-law’s dining table, supported by a modest £250 grant from The Prince’s Trust, now The King’s Trust. What began as a small project creating filters for household washing machines has grown into a Bristol-based company employing around 45 people and raising over £15 million in funding for its groundbreaking environmental work.
Highlights from Rio
Prince William has spent the past three days in Rio de Janeiro, where he was welcomed by Mayor Eduardo Paes on Monday and symbolically presented with the keys to the city. His packed itinerary has included visits to several of Rio’s iconic landmarks such as the Maracanã Stadium and Copacabana Beach, as well as tours of local sustainability and conservation projects. Among them was a visit to the Guapimirim mangrove area, where he learned about community-led environmental initiatives and met local leaders working to protect Brazil’s rich biodiversity.
On Tuesday evening, the eco-minded Prince attended the United for Wildlife Summit, where he delivered a landmark speech urging global action against environmental crime. He said:
“We must put a stop to the criminal networks driving environmental crime and destruction. We must stand alongside those who every day are standing up and defending nature. We must recognise and celebrate these protectors, not just in words but through our actions. And we must act together. Governments, businesses and civil society – each must now step up and play their role in developing solutions, scaling support, and shifting resources to where they are needed most.”
The address underscored his long-standing commitment to tackling the illegal wildlife trade and protecting ecosystems worldwide.
The glitzy Earthshot Prize Awards
Later on Wednesday, Prince William will host the 2025 Earthshot Prize Awards at Rio’s futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, where a star-studded lineup — including Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes — will perform. The Prince will deliver the keynote speech, during which five winners from among the 15 finalists will each receive £1 million to expand their innovative environmental projects aimed at helping to “repair the planet.”
Speaking to HELLO! in a world exclusive interview before departing for Brazil, William — father to Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7) — reflected on his motivation for championing environmental causes:
“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.”
