The Prince of Wales recently mirrored a poignant moment from his mother’s past with a visit to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
Prince William stood at the same vantage point where Diana, Princess of Wales, was photographed 34 years prior.
This visit marks the third day of his five-day tour of Brazil, during which he will present the Earthshot Prize, the prestigious annual award from his environmental charity.
The star-studded Earthshot Prize ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow, featuring performances by Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, where five winning projects will each receive £1 million.
The Prince is also slated to deliver a speech at COP30, the UN’s annual climate conference.
On a day blessed with clear skies, the future king paused for a moment of reflection, absorbing the panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro from atop Mount Corcovado, the site of the Christ the Redeemer statue.
The globally recognized statue, an imposing example of Art Deco sculpture, stands 30 meters tall with outstretched arms spanning 28 meters.
It has become a symbol of hope and resilience and is said to protect the people of Rio.
Princess Diana was photographed at the same location in April 1991 during her six-day visit to Brazil alongside the then Prince Charles III.
During Prince William’s public engagements in Rio, numerous individuals shared their memories of his late mother, who passed away in August 1997.
“Over the past few days, the prince has greatly enjoyed meeting many people from across Rio,” a spokesperson for the Prince stated.
“He has been deeply moved by the number of people who fondly recall his mother’s visit to this beautiful city.”
At Christ the Redeemer, Prince William also found time for private reflection in the chapel located beneath the statue.
Security measures have been heightened throughout his visit.
Public access to the statue was temporarily restricted to facilitate his visit and allow him to meet the 15 Earthshot Prize finalists ahead of the evening’s awards ceremony.
This year’s shortlist includes the city of Guangzhou in China, recognized for its electric public transport network; Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria, nominated for its efforts in reshaping the fashion industry; and Barbados, acknowledged for its environmental leadership.
The Earthshot Prize annually awards a £1 million grant in each of five categories to projects dedicated to addressing climate change.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will join Prince William for the ceremony before both proceed to Belem in the Amazon rainforest for COP30, where global leaders will discuss strategies to mitigate and prepare for further climate change.
Prince William’s first day in Brazil included engagements such as football at the Maracana Stadium and barefoot beach volleyball on Copacabana.
On Tuesday, the focus shifted to environmental issues, which is the primary reason for his visit to the country.
During a speech at the United for Wildlife conference, the prince criticized the involvement of criminals in the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.
He also visited the small island of Paqueta, where he interacted with locals, learned about mangrove conservation, and participated in planting tree saplings.
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