Awkward moment Prince William and Sir Keir Starmer appear to fumble handshake alongside Brazil’s president at green summit

Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William were seen making an awkward attempt at a handshake with the Brazilian President at the Cop30 summit.

As the Prince and Prime Minister emerged on to the stage alongside Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, they fumbled with their positions as they decided who would stand in the middle.

After a few moments of deliberations, the Brazilian President decided to stand between the two Brits and grabbed each of their hands to shake.

But Lula then placed their hands together in a mixed-up three-way handshake.

The trio then walked off from the stage, with the Prince of Wales appearing somewhat embarrassed from the exchange.

William had been on the Cop30 stage earlier, to give an impassioned speech talking of the ‘privilege’ he feels at representing his father on the global stage for the first time, but warning the world is ‘edging dangerously close’ to disaster.

The prince, 43, is representing King Charles at the COP30 United Nations Climate Summit in Belém, the gateway to Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.

Speaking at the World Leaders Summit in a landmark address, the heir to the throne – who flew to the event with Starmer following his Earthshot Prize awards in Rio de Janeiro last night – spoke from the heart about his determination to continue his father’s work on green issues and take them forwards.

He said: ‘We come together today here in the heart of the Amazon … at a pivotal moment in human history.

‘A moment that demands courage, cooperation and unwavering commitment to our planet’s future. A future that belongs not to us, but to our children and grandchildren.

‘All of us here today understand that we are edging dangerously close to the earth’s critical tipping points…thresholds beyond which the natural systems we depend on may begin to unravel.

‘The melting of polar ice, the loss of the Amazon, the disruption of ocean currents… these are not distant threats. They are fast-approaching and will affect every one of us, no matter where we live.’

Indeed he highlighted a visit he and his wife, the Princess of Wales, recently made to Pontypridd in South Wales which had been devastated by flooding. 

‘One resident told me how the river that once brought life to the town had become a source of fear,’ he said.

‘Their resilience was deeply moving. It was also a powerful reminder that climate change is not a distant threat. It is affecting lives across the UK, and across the world, from small towns to major cities, from coastal communities to inland regions. No corner of the globe will be unaffected.

‘These impacts pose risks to growth, security, and wellbeing in all countries. But we know that these risks often fall hardest on those who contributed least to the crisis. ‘

The prince said the situation demands ‘urgent, coordinated action’ and for world leaders to ask themselves some challenging questions.

‘We must ask ourselves, what legacy do we wish 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,’ he said.

‘Communities around the world are already facing rising seas, extreme heat, wildfires, floods, droughts, and increasing frequency of extreme weather.’

But much in the spirit of his Earthshot Prize awards, which are designed to accelerate and spotlight the most innovative solutions to the planet’s greatest environmental challenges, William also made clear he was keen to invoke a spirit of optimism.

He even praised his father, King Charles for his lifelong work in the field. The monarch is understood to have been consulted on his son’s speech before delivery.

Reminding delegates of the ‘extraordinary power of nations, communities, and individuals coming together to drive change’, he said: ‘When we unite behind shared purpose, we can scale and accelerate solutions that transcend borders. Solutions that give us hope, and fill us with optimism, for the future.

‘I have long believed in the power of urgent optimism: 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.

‘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.

‘The road ahead will be tough. We must transform the way we power our lives, produce our goods, move from place to place, and care for our land. But this is not just a challenge. It is a profound opportunity. An opportunity to build cleaner economies, restore nature, and improve the health and wellbeing of communities everywhere.

‘It is an opportunity to grow our economies, develop new technologies and create secure and affordable energy systems that are central to our future prosperity and security. Action on climate not only protects future generations but is a powerful engine to create better jobs and lives today.

‘We need to work together to build resilience from the escalating costs of climate change and become nature positive. This means incentivising protection and restoration, not destruction. It means recognising nature’s true value – not only in economic terms, but in its ability to sustain life, culture, and community for everyone to enjoy. ‘

He added that it was crucial for world leaders to listen the voices of indigenous people, such as those in the Brazilian Amazon, who have lived ‘in harmony’ with nature for so many generations, and to protect their land.

‘This is not just a moral imperative – it’s a practical climate solution to the climate and biodiversity challenges our planet faces,’ he said.

‘Let us build a future where Indigenous People and Local Communities are recognised as global climate leaders — where their rights are protected, their voices heard, and their knowledge respected as vital to the health of our planet.

‘The time for partnership, protection, and progress is now.’

The prince, who has often spoken of how one of his main drives to afford change are his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and the world they will inherit, concluded: ‘We know what is at stake. We know what must be done. And we know that no country, no community, no individual can do it alone.

‘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. Not with division, but with collaboration. Not with delay, but with decisive commitment. 

‘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.

‘This, here at COP30, is our moment. Let us not waste it. Our children and grandchildren are watching, and hoping.’

The prince will spend 24 hours in Belém meeting world leaders and undertaking a small number of public engagements, a significant step on his journey as a global statesman.

However COP30 -which has attracted leaders from 190 countries worldwide – has attracted its fair share of criticism already.

The annual United Nations conference brings together world leaders, scientists, campaigners, and negotiators from across the globe, to agree on collective next steps for tackling climate change.

It had been hoped that holding the summit in Belém would highlight the importance of protecting its ecosystem.

But critics have pointed to the irony of building new accommodation and even cutting down swathes of rainforest to build a motorway to the city just to accommodate the delegates, particularly in an area of often abject poverty.

The Brazilian government has also been attacked recently for accelerating oil drilling licensing.