Prince William and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shared a private conversation during their meeting at the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday evening.

The Prince of Wales warmly greeted the Prime Minister, offering words of encouragement: “Hopefully you enjoy it,” he said before the two spoke quietly for several minutes ahead of the main event.

A Shared Commitment to the Planet

Both leaders were in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards, a global environmental initiative founded by Prince William. Each year, the prize awards £1 million to five winners who present innovative solutions to the world’s pressing environmental challenges.

Prince William created the Earthshot Prize to inspire “positive action” and long-term environmental change. Speaking at an event before the ceremony, he emphasized the importance of taking action rather than just talking about solutions.

“I think the Earthshot Prize is a classic example of change,” he said. “Rather than talk about it, we’re doing it—and that’s where I want to be.”

He also praised the finalists, describing them as “the true action heroes of our time,” and added, “Change will come by backing them, not by what I do. And so I want to surround myself with people who want to make change and do good in the world.”

A Star-Studded Night in Rio

The ceremony drew an array of notable guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and former Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

Performers Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes also walked the “green carpet” with the Prince. Mendes shared a heartfelt moment, thanking William for his kindness toward his mother. “She’s still shaking, thank you,” Mendes said. In response, the Prince revealed that he had arranged a birthday cake and candles for her special day.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Message to the Next Generation

Before the ceremony, Sir Keir met four Brazilian children representing “mini-Cop,” a youth initiative focused on environmental projects. Later, speaking with students aged 11 to 18, he highlighted the importance of including young voices in climate discussions.

“You have to live with them longer than anyone else, so we need your voice,” the Prime Minister told the students.

Sir Keir also spoke with Adam Root, CEO of Matter—a company developing filters to capture microplastics from washing machines. Impressed by the innovation, the Prime Minister said it would be “really good to do more” when Root expressed interest in collaborating.

Continuing the Earthshot Legacy

The Earthshot Prize honors achievements across five key categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.

Since its launch in 2020, the award has been celebrated in major cities including London, Singapore, Cape Town, and Boston. Now, with Rio de Janeiro as its latest host, Prince William’s initiative continues to unite global leaders and innovators in the mission to repair and protect the planet.