A crowd gasped after Prince William tripped and fell while playing volleyball barefoot during his first day in Brazil.
Prince William ended his day in Rio de Janeiro with a visit to the world-famous Copacabana Beach, where he met emergency responders and young people taking part in local safety and environmental initiatives.
The engagement marked the final stop on a busy day of royal activity in the Brazilian city, part of his wider trip to South America centred on the Earthshot Prize and climate action.
Before departing, William joined a friendly game of beach volleyball with young players from the Levante Institute, a local school founded by Brazilian Olympian Carolina Solberg.
The institute uses sport as a tool to empower children from disadvantaged communities, offering opportunities for personal development, teamwork and leadership.
The Prince’s participation in the match drew applause from onlookers gathered along Copacabana’s promenade, as he played alongside local children and coaches.
However, at one point, the future king reached to hit the ball before tripping on the sand, using his hand to guard his fall.
The 43-year-old quickly stood up and continued the game as if the fall had never happened.
Crowd gasps after Prince William trips and falls while playing volleyball barefoot
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On arrival, the Prince was greeted by Colonel Tarciso Antonio de Salles Junior, Secretary of State for Civil Defence and General Commander of the Military Fire Brigade of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
The organisation, known locally as the Corpo de Bombeiros, oversees both lifeguard and emergency services across the city’s coastline.
William observed a sea rescue demonstration carried out by the Military Fire Brigade’s lifeguard unit, which showcased the team’s rapid response techniques and equipment used to save lives along the busy beachfront.
Rio’s beaches attract millions of visitors each year, making drowning prevention and public safety a major focus for local authorities.
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Prince William pictured playing volleyball in Brazil
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The Prince then met representatives from the brigade to learn more about their operations and the challenges of maintaining safety on such heavily populated shores.
Discussions also touched on the environmental work carried out by first responders, including beach preservation and pollution prevention efforts that contribute to the health of Rio’s coastal ecosystems.
After the rescue demonstration, William met a group of children and teenagers involved in Project Botinho — an annual free summer programme run by the fire brigade in partnership with Sesc-RJ (the Social Service of Commerce of Rio de Janeiro).
Prince William made a quick recovery during the match
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The project offers educational and recreational activities for around 5,000 young people aged between seven and 17 across several beaches in Rio state.
Project Botinho focuses on teaching ocean safety, first aid and environmental conservation, encouraging participants to act as community ambassadors for beach safety and marine protection.
The Prince spoke with instructors and children about the impact of the programme, which has become one of the region’s most established community outreach efforts.
The visit underlined his interest in community-based projects that combine environmental awareness with youth engagement and sport.
It also highlighted the importance of frontline services in both public safety and environmental stewardship — key themes of his visit to Brazil.
William’s time on Copacabana Beach rounded off his second day in Rio, ahead of the upcoming Earthshot Prize ceremony and subsequent travel to Belém, where he will address the COP30 climate summit.