Prince William Discovers a Hidden Bond with Queen Elizabeth in the Most Unexpected Place — Brazil. TT

The Prince of Wales has spent five days in the South American country, which included his Earthshot Prize awards and representing King Charles at a world leaders’ summit

Prince William is saying farewell to Brazil — but not before meeting with Indigenous Peoples, taking in some of the country’s natural beauty and learning about a surprise connection to his grandparents.

The Prince of Wales, 43, spent his final day of his visit to the country on Nov. 7 in Belém, which is known as the “Gateway to the Amazon.” Leaving his hotel, the royal stopped for an impromptu walkabout to greet some well-wishers gathered outside, who were chanting, “William, William.”

His last day also included discovering a surprising, unique connection to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth: one of the Brazilians in the team protecting him had a historical link to the late monarch.

André Benjamin Ferraz was one of the team of protection officers helping keep William safe as he moved from engagement to engagement through Rio and the surrounding areas. It has now emerged that his grandfather was in the squad who looked after the Queen when she visited Recife, in the northeast of Brazil, with Prince Philip in November 1968. Otacilio de Souza Ferraz was a military policeman from Recife and was called upon as part of the security team 57 years ago.

For his final engagement at a botanical park that surrounds the city’s Museu Emílio Goeldi, William was taken to see the towering sumauma tree, which is one of the oldest and most magnificent trees in the park.

Hosted by Joenia Wapichana, President of the National Association for Indigenous Peoples, he then met five Indigenous Peoples leaders, who had come from across Brazil and represent the different cultures and regions of the nation.

They told him about the role their people and communities play in protecting critical ecosystems. Their traditional knowledge is also being modernized as they integrate digital tools to monitor territories, combat disinformation, and promote their solutions.

The meeting touched on a theme of much of his week: how important it is that indigenous people are supported in their livelihoods and for the work they do in countering the destruction of the natural world, on which their lives depend.

On Tues Nov. 4, Prince William announced a huge commitment to Indigenous Peoples as his Royal Foundation and United for Wildlife are to fund help for them around the world.

Prince William arrived in Belém with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after his fifth Earthshot Prize awards evening in Rio. The royal heir made a key speech on behalf of his father, King Charles, 76, and the U.K. government at the World Leaders Summit, which is part of the COP30 talks. There, he urged global leaders, against the backdrop of an often-divided world, to “not waste” this moment.

“Our children and grandchildren will stand on the shoulders of our collective action,” he said. “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. Not with division, but with collaboration. Not with delay, but with decisive commitment.”