Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue grace the green carpet for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

The stars were out on the green carpet on Wednesday night at Prince William’s glittering Earthshot Prize Awards.

The Prince of Wales attended the Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly at Pier 3, part of the three-day Earthshot summit in Rio, to see prizes handed out to groundbreaking environmental initiatives, a cause close to his heart.

The event brought together government officials, indigenous leaders and youth advocates to share inspiring Earthshot stories from the past year, and highlighted investments which are helping finalists scale up their environmental solutions.

Dazzling Kylie, 57, said she was wearing a Stella McCartney ‘rewear’ to the event.

Caught on a live Sky News broadcast, she also praised Prince William’s Earthshot prize as ‘amazing people doing incredible things’.

In an impassioned speech on Wednesday night, William said: ‘I understand that some might feel discouraged in these uncertain times. I understand that there is still so much to be done.

‘But this is no time for complacency, and the optimism I felt in 2020 [when he set up the awards], remains ardent today.

‘Because our finalists are a shining example of how we can build stronger economies, design healthier cities, and create better jobs for the next generation.’

He continued: ‘We can support the dreamers and innovators who work tirelessly to build a more sustainable world. We can protect our beautiful planet for all life that calls it home.

‘The choices we make during this decade will define us… but more importantly, they will define the lives of young people. The future belongs to them.

‘They are the ones who will inherit the planet we are fighting to protect. They are the ones who will continue to drive our momentum forwards.’

Re.green was awarded The Earthshot Prize to Protect and Restore Nature for ‘leading a global movement to restore Brazil’s lost Atlantic Forest, combining cutting-edge technology, ecological science and social impact’.

Soon after, Brazilian footballing legend Cafu announced The High Seas Treaty, led by The High Seas Alliance, as the winners of The Earthshot Prize to Revive Our Oceans.

The Prize to Build a Waste-Free World went to Lagos Fashion Week, for its work on sustainable fashion, before Friendship secured the Fix Our Climate award.

And to top it all off, the city of Bogota was handed The Earthshot Prize to Clean Our Air after the Colombian city reduced its air pollution by a whopping 24 per cent.

William, 43, arrived at the Museum of Tomorrow wearing a black tie suit by Tom Ford.

Appropriately, given the environmental theme of the awards, it was also a rewear.

Global superstars Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue answered the heir to the throne’s call to headline the awards show in the vibrant Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

On arrival he was met by Luciano Huck, presenter of the awards, who invited him to view local samba dancers and carnival artists.

He then walked the green carpet and met musical artists performing in the Awards including Anitta and Seu Jorge as well as Mendes and Minogue.

Posing for photographs on the green carpet, Mendes thanked Prince William for a birthday cake he had arranged for his British mother, Karen, whose birthday was on Sunday, when they met earlier in the day. She was ‘overjoyed’ apparently.

He was also introduced to British Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer and Jacinda Ardern, former PM of New Zealand, Stephanie Al- Qaq, British Ambassador, and Marina Silva, Environment Minister, Brazil.