Prince William crowned 'Honorary Carioca' without even needing throne

Prince William is set to earn a new title this time in Brazil after city authorities confirmed he will become an Honorary Citizen of Rio de Janeiro.

The Prince of Wales, who recently spent five days in Brazil attending the Earthshot Prize awards and helping prepare for the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, clearly left a lasting impression. 

Rio City Council President Carlo Caiado and Mayor Eduardo Paes led the initiative, which was backed by the Council’s Executive Board and key committees on Constitution, Justice, and Education.

“The prince deserves all the recognition,” said the city’s mayor. “We embraced the idea of making him a carioca.”

“His recent visit was remarkable and already missed by many. He has shown genuine commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes, particularly during Cop30 in Belém.”

During his stay, William ticked off the city’s iconic landmarks like Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Maracanã Stadium, chatting with locals and workers along the way. 

But the trip wasn’t all sightseeing. He also focused on environmental collaboration tied to his Earthshot Prize, which celebrates solutions to the world’s pressing climate challenges. 

During a broadcast interview, he also opened up on family matters, touching on Princess Kate’s health and discussing how they navigate challenges together as a family. 

“Every family goes through difficult times and faces challenges together. How you deal with those moments makes all the difference,” he said.