Prince William Echoes Princess Diana with Iconic Christ the Redeemer Visit in Rio
In a poignant echo of royal history, Prince William has followed in the footsteps of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, by visiting the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
Standing against the bright blue Brazilian sky, the Prince of Wales paused for a quiet moment of reflection before the towering Art Deco monument, 34 years after Diana posed in the same spot during her 1991 tour of Brazil with the then-Prince Charles.
William’s visit forms part of his five-day trip to Brazil, where he is championing global environmental innovation through his charity’s Earthshot Prize. This year’s ceremony will take place at Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow, featuring performances by Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, with five winning projects each receiving £1 million for their climate solutions.
“The prince has loved meeting so many people from across Rio over the last few days,” a spokesperson said. “He’s been incredibly struck by the number of people who fondly remember his mother’s visit to this beautiful city.”
Atop Mount Corcovado, the future king spent time inside the small chapel beneath the statue before meeting the 15 Earthshot finalists. Public access to the monument was temporarily closed for the royal visit, which has seen heightened security throughout.
The shortlist of nominees this year spans the globe — from Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria, recognised for its sustainable fashion initiatives, to Barbados for its environmental leadership, and Guangzhou, China, for pioneering electric public transport.
Prince William’s Brazil tour has balanced environmental advocacy with moments of cultural connection — from playing football at the Maracanã Stadium to joining locals for barefoot volleyball on Copacabana Beach. On Tuesday, he turned his focus to conservation, condemning the criminal networks behind Amazon deforestation and planting mangrove saplings on the island of Paquetá.
The Prince will next travel to Belém, in the Amazon rainforest, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to attend COP30, where world leaders will discuss strategies to combat and adapt to climate change.
For many, however, the enduring image of the trip will be that of a son standing where his mother once stood — a serene moment connecting past and present, framed by one of the world’s most powerful symbols of hope.
