Prince William helped put focus back on the positive work of the Royal Family, as he launched his Earthshot Awards in Rio de Janeiro, ITV News’ Royal Editor Chris Ship reports
After two weeks of turbulence, which led to the ‘de-princing’ of Andrew Mountabetten Windsor, his nephew Prince William will hope to turn a page on the saga on Monday at the start of a five-day trip to Brazil.
The Prince of Wales is bringing his annual Earthshot Awards Ceremony to Rio de Janeiro, the first time the environmental scheme he founded has been held in South America.
The timing of this trip was one of many reasons why Buckingham Palace wanted the Andrew problem dealt with as fully and as finally as possible at the end of last week, to ensure the focus returned to the work of the Royal Family rather than the reputation of the King’s brother.
With the Andrew story partially overshadowing King Charles’ historic visit to the Vatican last month, when he became the first British Monarch to pray alongside the Pope for 500 years, senior courtiers in both Buckingham and Kensington palaces wanted William to get a clear run here in Brazil.
Both events here this week, Earthshot and COP30, concern the health of the planet, and the King would be further irritated if his younger brother were to dominate the royal news headlines instead.
Now in its fifth year, the winners of the Earthshot Prize each receive £1 million to expand and upscale their projects, ranging from cleaning the air to improving our oceans.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attending the ceremony in Rio on Wednesday, the first time the UK premier has attended Earthshot in this capacity.
It’s a show of support from Downing Street and means the PM and the Prince will travel together to the UN climate change conference, COP30, in Belem in northern Brazil.
The prime minister’s office was also working hand in hand with Buckingham Palace to find a solution to the stripping of Andrew’s titles of prince, his dukedoms and his knighthoods, as they were acutely aware how much damage that issue was doing to the reputation of the monarchy at home and overseas.
Of course, the Andrew story still has a long way to go. And developments will keep coming, as papers are unsealed in the US courts relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
President Trump has become the most recent world leader to add his thoughts on the recent saga. He spoke on Air Force One and said: “I feel very badly. I mean, it’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family. That’s been a tragic situation. And, it’s too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family.”
But for the heir to the throne, who is following in his father’s footsteps in campaigning on the international stage to tackle climate change and find solutions for the health of the planet, this week is a significant one.
His office likes to talk about William’s growing role as a global statesman, and for that image to solidify in the minds of people in the UK and around the world, events like the ones this week will need to run to plan.
One day, William will continue this environmental work as King, but between now and then, he needs to show he’s committed to the cause in a meaningful way.
Earthshot in Rio de Janeiro will help in that endeavour. Being overshadowed by his Uncle Andrew will not.
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