Prince William, the Prince of Wales, embarked on a landmark five-day visit to Brazil, marking his first international trip to a COP summit. The visit began with a symbolic ceremony on Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, where he was presented with the keys to the city by Mayor Eduardo Paes. The backdrop of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue added grandeur to the occasion. Prince William, known for his environmental advocacy, traveled to the summit via cable car, surprising tourists who later shared selfies with the royal. His visit is centered on two key environmental initiatives: presenting the Earthshot Prize, an annual award he founded to combat climate change, and delivering a speech at COP30 in the Amazon rainforest. The Earthshot Prize, now in its fifth year, awards £1 million grants to innovative projects addressing global environmental challenges. This year’s shortlist includes groundbreaking initiatives such as an upcycled skyscraper in Sydney and a microplastic filtration system in Bristol. Prince William emphasized the optimism and courage of the nominees, calling them ‘heroes of our time.’ Beyond his formal duties, the prince immersed himself in Brazilian culture, visiting the Maracana Stadium, where he met football legend Cafu, who presented him with a signed Brazil jersey. Cafu, alongside other notable figures, will co-present the Earthshot Prize. The visit also comes amid ongoing royal family controversies, though sources confirm Prince William’s focus remains on his environmental mission. Mayor Paes humorously remarked that Rio now ‘belongs to Prince William’ for the next 72 hours, highlighting the warmth of his reception.