Prince William kicked off his Brazil visit with a surprising move, playing barefoot volleyball on Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach. The Prince of Wales joined Brazilian Olympic player Carolina Solberg for a quick game ahead of his big event, the Earthshot Prize ceremony, which takes place Wednesday. The royal looked relaxed and full of energy as he tossed off his shoes and socks, joined the locals, and shouted, “Hi guys, be nice!” before diving into the match.
For ten minutes, William jumped, laughed, and even took a few tumbles on the sand. Crowds at the beach cheered him on as he rotated through positions, trying out his volleyball skills with a bright smile. Solberg, who runs the Levante Institute, a local beach volleyball school for underprivileged children, said the Prince was “amazing” to play with.
“He’s tall, he can hit, and he had a lot of energy,” Solberg told reporters. “He looked like he was really having fun. If he practiced more, I think he could be very good.”
Carolina Solberg praises Prince William’s beach volleyball skills
Carolina Solberg, a Brazilian Olympic volleyball player, was thrilled to have the Prince on her team. Her group, the Levante Institute, helps children in Rio through sports, giving them a safe space to learn and grow. Solberg said William was interested in her project and loved meeting the kids involved.
When someone asked if Prince William could join her volleyball team, she laughed and said, “Yeah, for sure. He’s in!”
Even when a staff member tried to pull him away from the game, William joked, “We’ll be here all night, you guys, talk amongst yourselves.” The crowd loved it, cheering as he continued to spike and dive in the sand.
The visit wasn’t just about sports, it was also about community. Prince William’s beach stop came just before his main event, the Earthshot Prize, known as one of the world’s top environmental awards. His goal on the Brazil trip is to bring attention to local projects that are helping protect nature and inspire young people.
Prince William and Cafu team up for football at Maracana Stadium
Earlier in the day, Prince William met Brazil football legend Cafu at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Together, they joined children from Terra FC, an organization teaching environmental lessons through football.
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Whitney Cummings Confirms Engagement To Pro Skateboarder Chris Cole But Her Unexpected Reaction Stole The SpotlightPrince William, who is a big fan of Aston Villa, even asked the kids, “My team’s Aston Villa. Have you heard of them?” and laughed when one said yes. The royal, wearing white £179 eco-friendly sneakers by Mr Marvis, played a short three-a-side match with Cafu.
The Brazilian star’s team won 3–2, but William didn’t mind, he quickly joined another group of young girls who were training by dribbling soccer balls while holding cups of water to improve their balance.
The day ended with William taking a penalty shot against 14-year-old goalie Pedro Enrique, as his teammates cheered, “William! William!”
It was a day full of laughter, sport, and connection, and a reminder that even a Prince can kick off his shoes, dive into the sand, and just enjoy the game.
Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here