Prince William Makes Historic First Speech on Behalf of King Charles at World Conference

Prince William is delivering a message of hope and optimism as he speaks for his father, King Charles.

The Prince of Wales, 43, made his first address on behalf of the King, 76, and the U.K. government — and it was for a shared belief: that action is needed to halt the climate crisis.

Joining global politicians and heads of state at the World Leaders Summit, which is part of the COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil, on Nov. 6, William opened his speech in Portuguese, saying: “Bom Dia! Muito obrigado Presidente Lula e Governador Barbalho pelas calorosas boas vindas a Belem do Para.” (“Good morning! Many thanks to President Lula and Governor Barbalho for the warm welcome to Belém do Para.”)

He then said it was for this generation to safeguard the natural world for their children and grandchildren.

“Our children and grandchildren will stand on the shoulders of our collective action. Let us use these inspiring surroundings here in the heart of the Amazon to rise to meet this moment, not with hesitation, but with courage,” he said. “Not with division, but with collaboration. Not with delay, but with decisive commitment.”

“Let us honor the leadership of those who have long protected the planet — Indigenous Peoples and local communities — and walk forward together,” he continued. “Let us build a future where nature is valued, and where every child inherits a world of prosperity, not peril. Let us rise to this moment with the clarity that history demands of us. Let us be the generation that turned the tide — not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born.”

“Our children and grandchildren are watching, and hoping,” he said.

William talked about the “disastrous impact of simultaneous floods, fires and droughts in Brazil” two years ago.

But climate change is affecting lives at home, in the U.K. too. Recalling a visit to the Welsh town of Pontypridd, with wife Kate Middleton in February, he said, the community is “still recovering from devastating floods. I met families who had lost their homes, their possession and their sense of security.”

“One resident told me how the river that once brought life to the town had become a source of fear. Their resilience is deeply moving,” he said.

Although the speech was written with the U.K. government as he was representing them, there were distinct echoes of his own philosophy. “I have long believed in the power of urgent optimism,” he said, mirroring his belief that there is hope in finding solutions to the crisis. “The conviction that, even in the face of daunting challenges, we have the ingenuity and determination to make a difference, and to do so now.”

Representing his father King Charles was a proud moment for William — and he hailed the King’s long-standing commitment to the natural world. “I grew up with my father the King talking about the power of nature and the importance of harmony in the natural world. A subject he has championed for over five decades. It is a privilege to also represent him here today, as well as everyone else who has championed this cause, for so many years,” he shared.

The visit on Nov. 6, came after his three-day stay in Rio de Janeiro that culminated in his fifth Earthshot Prize awards — “a global initiative I founded to accelerate and spotlight the most innovative solutions to our planet’s greatest environmental challenges. Many of these solutions are born in the Global South.”

He said it was inspiring to see the ideas that were taking shape to tackle the environmental crisis.

“The event was not only a celebration of ingenuity and hope, but a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with vision and courage,” William told the gathering of world leaders. “It was inspiring to witness such bold ideas from people all over the world come to life in a place so deeply committed to sustainability.”

And he called upon leaders to think about the future: “What legacy do we want to leave? Because the impact of all our choices will be felt by us all around the world, in the safety of their homes, the stability of their livelihoods, and the health of the natural world that sustains us all.”

Day four of his visit to Brazil began with a greeting from Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, underlining once again the role William is taking in representing the royal family and the U.K., abroad. As he flew from Rio de Janeiro to Belem with the U.K.’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, William was photographed on the plane preparing for his speech.

At Wednesday night’s Earthshot Prize awards, Australian pop idol Kylie Minogue gave a barnstorming performance of a medley of her international hits, including “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” and a cover of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” that had William singing along and the audience out of their seats.

Talking to Kylie and Brazilians Gilberto Gil and Seu Jorge after the show, William told the Australian singer, “Thank you so much, honestly, the whole thing was fantastic,” adding that “everyone was up and dancing!”

For herself, Kylie congratulated the prince on the ceremony and praised “the energy from the crowd.” The prince then appeared to suggest Kylie could perform at another Earthshot Prize ceremony in the future.

“It’s a deal,” she said.

Source: People.com