Prince William's statement on 'shared topic' with King Charles amid looming royal crisis

Prince William is set to fly to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards, the first of a series of engagements the Prince of Wales will undertake in the coming months

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Prince William has expressed his enthusiasm about touching down in Brazil tomorrow morning to highlight his yearly Earthshot Prize ceremony.

As he boarded a commercial aircraft departing London, the future king declared: "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 not only to recognise 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 reach."

The Prince of Wales will this week endeavor to redirect attention away from his scandal-hit uncle and toward his yearly environmental award.

William, 43, is dedicating three days in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony, a program he established in 2020 to discover answers to significant environmental challenges including climate change, ocean plastic contamination and wildlife habitat destruction, reports the Express.

This year's award event is being promoted as the "biggest and best Earthshot ever".

It represents a cornerstone of his professional mission, and he'll be crossing his fingers that media attention centers on his series of commitments in the Brazilian capital rather than Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's dramatic downfall. Last week, the King decided to strip his younger brother of his Prince and Duke of York titles due to his connections with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He will also vacate his luxurious residence, the Royal Lodge, and move to the King's private estate at Sandringham.

William was involved in the decision to formally revoke his honors, as both father and son strive to prevent Andrew from overshadowing the crucial work of the Royal Family.

On Monday, the prince will arrive via a commercial flight and immediately embark on a series of engagements at some of the city's globally renowned landmarks, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue.

All of his engagements will emphasize the efforts being made to safeguard the country's abundant biodiversity and diverse ecosystems.

During his visit, William will focus on "the next generation of climate leaders and on why now, more than ever, action is needed to protect and restore the planet," according to a spokesman for the Prince of Wales.

They further stated: "It's an exciting time to be in Brazil as across Latin America, environmental leaders are driving bold, innovative approaches to protect and restore vital ecosystems like the Amazon, while creating local jobs and economic opportunities."

William will also participate in a summit of his United for Wildlife consortium, which aims to combat the illegal trade in wildlife parts and endangered species.

Following Wednesday evening's star-studded award ceremony, where five finalists will receive a whopping £1million to further their environmental innovations, the prince is set to jet off to Belem for the United Nations Climate Summit COP30.

Leaders from around the globe will convene in the city, often referred to as the gateway to the Amazon River, to deliberate on the latest strategies to combat the global climate crisis.

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Prince William, representing his father, who has been a long-time advocate for the environment, is understood to have had several discussions with him about his upcoming visit to Brazil this week.

The King shows great interest in his son's Earthshot Prize and has even reviewed William's COP speech, which he is scheduled to deliver on Thursday. An insider revealed that the King was "delighted" to read it and discuss the trip, as it's a "shared topic that they are so extremely passionate about".

Jason Knauf, the CEO of the Earthshot Prize, expressed, "With its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, it is the perfect place to celebrate amazing environmental innovation and host our biggest and best Earthshot ever."

He shared that the finalists have garnered over $400 million in funding from investment and philanthropy, and have protected and restored over 1 million hectares of land and sea, adding, "In just five years, the momentum we've built is nothing short of extraordinary."