Prince William’s Latest Brazil Appearance Gets Surprise Cameo from Leonardo DiCaprio

Prince William had A-list support in Brazil.

The Prince of Wales, 43, was joined via video message at the United for Wildlife Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 4, by a surprise guest: Leonardo DiCaprio. The organization works to counter the illegal trade in wildlife parts and endangered species.

In his message, DiCaprio, 50, told leaders at the meeting that now was the time to act. “Nature is our most powerful solution,” the Oscar winner said in the video, also published on his Instagram page. “I urge world leaders to unite with courage and ambition because the world depends on it.”

William also made a speech at the event, looking ahead to his Earthshot Prize, which he said “will honor some of the most inspiring people and solutions to our planet’s greatest challenges.”

He added, “Our task here today is clear: We must put a stop to the criminal networks driving environmental crime and destruction. We must stand alongside those who, every day, are standing up and defending nature. We must recognize and celebrate these protectors, not just in words but through our actions. And we must act together.” 

“Governments, businesses and civil society — each must now step up and play their role in developing solutions, scaling support, and shifting resources to where they are needed most,” he continued. “As we look ahead to COP30 in the Amazon, let us carry our determination forward… united in purpose, bold in ambition, and unwavering in our commitment to a safer and healthier world.”

Prince William also unveiled a new plan to help those striving to protect Indigenous people who are losing livelihoods to deforestation. He wants to safeguard those who are not only most at risk from the continuing degradation of nature, but are also often best-placed to save them. “But today, these protectors are under attack,” William said.

In his speech, he announced that a new partnership between The Royal Foundation, the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon and The Podáali Fund — the first Indigenous-led fund covering the Brazilian Amazon. It will help with legal aid, provide a support fund for people in immediate peril and raise awareness of Indigenous peoples’ rights.

The summit was attended by government representatives, members of Interpol and leaders of local Indigenous people.

“Environmental crime is now one of the most profitable and damaging forms of transnational crime,” William said. “In the past year alone, over 1.7 million hectares of the Amazon were cleared across this region… much of which is driven by illicit activity.”

And he added that crime in turn “fuels violence and corruption, distorts legitimate economies, and negatively impacts the livelihoods of millions.” 

“For Indigenous communities, these losses are not just environmental but existential. As forests are destroyed, so are their ancestral lands, sacred sites and even lives,” William went on.

“Indigenous Peoples and local communities are partners and leaders with their own solutions. They are not just residents of the forest – they are its protectors. Their stewardship has kept deforestation rates in Indigenous Lands in the Brazilian Amazon up to 83% lower than in unprotected areas globally.”

But like those wildlife rangers who work to save rhinos and elephants from poachers, it is an incredibly dangerous job. “Those who stand in the way of illicit activity face deadly consequences. Latin America recorded 120 environmental protectors killed or disappeared in 2024 — accounting for over 80% of all such cases worldwide,” William said.

“These are not just statistics. These are lives. These are people taking enormous risks to protect the land and the future we all depend on. We cannot manage our forests while their protectors live in fear.”

Earlier on Tuesday, he spent an afternoon seeing how Indigenous people are working to restore crucial mangroves, a link between the forests on land and the sea.

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It follows on from last year’s initiative that sought to help protect the wildlife guardians, the rangers. Then, William announced that his organization had constructed a scheme that backed rangers with an insurance policy that protected them and their families, removing a major insecurity in their dangerous profession.

On Tuesday, he talked about the progress that’s been made. “I committed that we would make sure 10,000 rangers were insured within five years … and I’m pleased to announce today that we are well ahead on delivery, with more than 6,000 rangers insured within the first year alone,” he told the summit.

“And that is why we are going further… by working to replicate this model around the world. So that more of nature’s protectors are properly supported to do their vital work.”