Prince William was being interviewed by CNN ahead of the COP30 climate summit when he was probed about the recent scandals rocking the Royal Family.
Prince William was interviewed by CNN while in Brazil(Image: CNN)
CNN viewers were left outraged after Prince William was questioned about Royal Family controversies – but they were full of praise for the future monarch’s response.
The Prince of Wales was attending the final of The Earthshot Prize in Brazil, discussing environmental issues on stage, with the broadcast being shown on CNN.
He sat down with CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour in the run-up to the COP30 climate summit, but the interview quickly took an unexpected turn, reports the Express.
Asking about the recent scandals rocking the royals, Amanpour remarked: “So you know that you’re somebody that people all over the world look to, they follow your every action and every word … including some of the stuff you’ve been doing recently.
“I’ve been watching with great interest the encounter you had with the great writer and producer Eugene Levy.
“You talked about a lot of things, and it looked to me like you were humanising the monarchy, and I was very interested to hear where you focused.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, arrive at the Julio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport (Val-de-Cans) in Belem, Para State, Brazil, on November 6, 2025, to attend the COP30 UN climate conference. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
She continued: “But something that drew a lot of interest was when you said to Eugene: ‘I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda, change for the good. I embrace and I enjoy that change, I don’t fear it.’
You went on to say: ‘I want to make sure that this is a job that impacts people’s lives for the better, I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do.’
“Given the fact that there has been a lot of change in your own family recently, talk about that a little bit. Where do you see the change, what do you think needs to happen?”
Prince William then delivered a composed response, saying: “I think The Earthshot Prize is a classic example of change. Rather than talk about it, we’re doing it, and that’s where I want it to be.
Prince William was nearly humiliated live on CNN(Image: Getty)
“These people in here are the true action heroes of our time, and change will come by backing them, not by what I do. And so I want to surround myself with people who want to make change and do good in the world.”
The audience applauded as he continued: “It’s really important, you have to provide a leadership and a vision that there’s good things to come, and it’s not all negative.
“For my children especially, knowing the planet is going to be in a healthier, better state because of the brilliant people in this room. It’s something I love to tell them when they go to bed.”
Supporters were swift to respond to the footage on social media, with one writing on X: “She thought she could prod Prince William with a question that nodded to all the royal scandals and family drama.
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“But she quickly realised – he wasn’t playing that game. Unlike Harry, William doesn’t air the family laundry in public.
“He pivoted immediately, redirecting the conversation to his causes and what he hopes to offer the world: a better future for the people of Earth. Say what you will, but that’s the posture of a statesman. A leader.”
Another viewer commented: “He’s spent his entire life in front of the camera, with every word watched and weighed by both the press and the public.
“To say he’s media-trained doesn’t quite do it justice. He’s exceptionally media-trained. From the moment we first saw William in his mother’s arms on the hospital steps, he became part of so many of our lives.”