Prince William issues statement days after Andrew stripped of titles | Royal | News
Prince William said he was “excited” to arrive in Brazil tomorrow morning to unveil the annual Earthshot Trophy. Speaking as he departed London on a commercial flight, the heir to the throne said: “As I head to Rio de Janeiro, I am excited for my first visit and to experience Brazil’s vibrant culture, extraordinary biodiversity and, above all, the warmth of its people.
“As the eyes of the world turn to Brazil this week, there is no better place to celebrate bold climate leadership. Hosting the Earthshot Prize allows us not only to recognize those driving change, but also to be inspired by them. When we work together with optimism and courage, a more sustainable future is within our grasp.”
This week William will try to shift the focus from his disgraced uncle to his annual environmental prize.
William, 43, is spending three days in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 Earthshot Prize awards, an initiative he launched in 2020 to find solutions to major environmental problems such as climate change, ocean plastic pollution and loss of wildlife habitat.
This year’s awards show is being touted as “the biggest and best Earthshot ever.”
It’s a core tenet of his business, and he hopes the spotlight will be on a series of ventures he’s made in the Brazilian metropolis, not the spectacular decline of Andrew Mountatten Windsor.
Last week, the King decided to strip his younger brother of the titles of prince and Duke of York over his connection to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He will also be leaving his luxury mansion, Royal Lodge, and moving to the King’s private Sandringham Estate.
As father and son attempted to prevent Andrew from overshadowing the important work of the Royal Family, William was consulted to formally strip him of his honour.
The prince will arrive on a commercial flight on Monday and take part in a series of events directly at some of the city’s world-famous landmarks, such as the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue.
Their full mandate will highlight the work undertaken to protect the country’s rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems.
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales said that during his trip, William would highlight “the next generation of climate leaders and why action is needed now more than ever to protect and restore the planet”.
They added: “It’s an exciting time to be in Brazil, as it is everywhere in Latin America, as environmental leaders develop bold, innovative approaches to protect and restore vital ecosystems like the Amazon, while also creating local jobs and economic opportunities.”
William will also attend the summit of the Wildlife United consortium, which works to combat the illegal trade in wildlife parts and endangered species.
Following Wednesday evening’s star-studded awards ceremony, where five finalists will receive £1 million prizes to expand their environmental innovations, the prince will travel to Belem for the United Nations Climate Summit COP30.
World leaders will gather in the city known as the gateway to the Amazon River to discuss the latest efforts to solve the global climate crisis.
The two are understood to have held several talks about the prince’s visit to Brazil this week, with William attending the COP on behalf of his father, who has been an environmental advocate for decades.
The King is keenly interested in his son’s Earthshot Prize and has also read William’s COP speech on Thursday. A source said the King was “delighted” to read it and discuss the trip as it was “a common topic they are extremely passionate about”.
“With its energy, people and iconic landscapes, this is the perfect place to celebrate incredible environmental innovations and host our biggest and best Earthshot ever,” says Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize.
He said the finalists had raised more than £380 million through investment and philanthropy and protected and restored more than 1 million hectares of land and sea, adding: “The momentum we have created in just five years is nothing short of extraordinary.”
