Prince William’s Brazil trip sends message amid Andrew crisis

Prince William is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a three-day visit to represent the Earthshot Prize Summit.

The Prince of Wales began his official visit to Rio on November 3, where he was honored with the keys to the city during his first public engagement since King Charles moved to strip Prince Andrew of his remaining titles.

Arriving at Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, William was welcomed by Mayor Eduardo Paes and presented with the symbolic keys an honor typically reserved for the kings and queens of the city’s world-famous carnival.

The 43-year-old royal admired sweeping views of Rio’s coastline and greeted cheering onlookers who were pleasantly surprised by his appearance.

“This is a really special moment, and the backdrop is breathtaking,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson shared.

The outing comes just days after Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours” from his brother, the former Prince Andrew.

The Palace insiders told PEOPLE that the move had full family support, including William’s.

Moreover, William is turning his focus to global environmental innovation, ahead of the awards ceremony on November 5.

He’s visiting conservation sites and meeting climate leaders to spotlight Brazil’s rich biodiversity and preservation efforts.

Brazil provides a fitting stage for William’s mission, and a refreshing shift from the turbulence back in the U.K..