To honor Prince William’s prestigious Earthshot Awards, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro will be illuminated in green this week. The Prince of Wales has arrived in Brazil for a three-day celebration of the nominees and winners of the environmental initiative, marking its first appearance in Latin America.
The Earthshot Prize will conclude with an awards ceremony at Rio’s modern Museum of Tomorrow on Wednesday. Five winners will each receive £1 million to advance their groundbreaking environmental initiatives aimed at preserving the planet.
Following a challenging period for the royal family due to the scandal involving former Prince Andrew, Prince William aims to redirect attention to his Brazil visit. His itinerary includes a visit to the COP climate summit in Belem, known as the ‘gateway to the Amazon,’ scheduled for Friday.
The Earthshot initiative, which awards £1 million in each of five categories, is a key project initiated by Prince William. The program, which began in 2020, is designed to accelerate environmental innovation to combat issues like climate change, ocean pollution, and wildlife habitat loss by 2030.
Chosen from a pool of nearly 2,500 nominees from 72 countries, the 2025 finalists are recognized for their exceptional climate leadership. The awards ceremony is expected to reach a vast audience of 34 million viewers in Brazil and the UK through broadcasts on BBC and Globo.
In a statement before his departure to Rio de Janeiro, the Prince of Wales expressed his anticipation for the visit, highlighting Brazil’s rich culture, biodiversity, and the warmth of its people. He emphasized the significance of celebrating climate leadership during this global spotlight on Brazil.
During his stay, Prince William will also pay a visit to the renowned Christ the Redeemer statue as part of the local activities.
Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, commended the global network of climate leaders built over five years, emphasizing the importance of supporting existing solutions to address pressing challenges. The momentum of the Earthshot Decade is deemed unstoppable at this pivotal halfway point.
On a separate note, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have relocated to their permanent residence, Forest Lodge, with their children, transitioning from Adelaide Cottage to the spacious mansion in Windsor Great Park. This move signifies a fresh start for the family following Kate’s recovery from illness, coinciding with Prince William’s upcoming solo trip to Rio for the Earthshot Prize Awards.
The relocation brings the Wales family closer to Prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s residence, Royal Lodge, although they are approximately 1.4 miles apart in Windsor Great Park.