Prince William was accused of breaking royal protocol shortly after landing in Rio de Janeiro on November 3.

The 43-year-old Prince of Wales arrived in Brazil for a five-day visit—his first official trip to the country—to host his Earthshot Prize in Rio and participate in the COP30 global climate summit in Belem, located in the Amazon region.

Upon arrival, William received a grand reception, being presented with the keys to the city—an honour typically reserved for Rio’s carnival king.

A Busy First Day in Brazil

The royal wasted no time diving into activities. He took a cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, where he enjoyed breathtaking views of Rio and the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue. He was accompanied by the city’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, who greeted him warmly.

Later, William joined locals in a barefoot volleyball match on one of Brazil’s iconic beaches and even scored a penalty kick during a brief football session at the legendary Maracanã Stadium.

Mayor Paes commented: “He was very nice, amazed with the beauty of the city, and we are very happy to have him here. It’s a big honour for the city.”

Jokingly, he added: “So he’s got the keys—he can do whatever he wants in the next 72 hours. The city belongs to Prince William. I’m still the king, but it will belong to him!”

The mayor also noted: “I spoke a lot, I tried to explain to him the security issue of the city a little bit. Obviously, it’s a much deeper topic than something you can explain in five minutes, but it was a good opportunity to discuss.”

The Selfie Controversy

Despite the successful start to his trip, fans quickly noticed a moment that appeared to break royal tradition. When greeting crowds upon arrival, William was seen smiling and leaning in for selfies with excited fans who had gathered to meet him.

Videos circulating on social media captured the Prince grinning as admirers turned their phones around for quick snaps. This small gesture sparked discussion, as members of the royal family have long followed a “no selfies” rule—a tradition that only recently began to soften.

Both William and Kate Middleton have been more relaxed about taking selfies, moving away from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s firm stance against them.

According to Cosmopolitan, a Reuters royal expert explained: “It’s not usually appropriate to do so. If you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take it—but it’s important to respect that person’s personal space.”

The report also recalled that Meghan Markle once told a fan during an engagement: “We’re not allowed to do selfies,” back when she was still a working royal.

Fans Delighted by the Prince’s Gesture

One lucky admirer who managed to capture a selfie with William later shared it on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“WILLIAM, YOU WERE SO AMAZING AND KIND! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE BEST SELFIE OF MY LIFE.”

She followed up with another post, saying:
“I couldn’t say anything to him, I was so nervous. I just said hi—he held my hand and said ‘nice to meet you,’ and then HE WAITED for me to take the selfie and put his hand on my shoulder.”

Other fans chimed in with admiration, commenting:
“He does his mother and grandparents proud,” and “He is so good. What a King he will be.”