Prince William’s Latest Outing Proves He and Harry Aren’t So Different After All
On opposite sides of the Atlantic, Prince Harry and Prince William remain connected through fewer words and more shared interests.
Prince Harry's 2020 exit from royal life was reportedly the final blow to his relationship with Prince William, which had been strained after he married Meghan Markle. Now, on opposite sides of the Atlantic, they share fewer words than common interests, a reminder of their adventure-filled childhood. This was evident during William's recent outing to Brazil on November 3, where he was spotted enjoying a lively game of volleyball. His love for sports mirrors that of Harry, who is the founder of The Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event.
Currently in Brazil for a week-long Earthshot Prize tour, William kicked off his visit with a beach volleyball match on Copacabana Beach. Teaming up with Brazilian Olympic player Carolina Solberg and young athletes from her volleyball school, the Prince of Wales dove barefoot into the sand, took a tumble, and told onlookers, "We'll be here all night, you guys, talk amongst yourselves." A day earlier, he was welcomed to Rio de Janeiro with an honor reserved for the carnival king: the keys to the city. Standing atop Sugarloaf Mountain and overlooking Rio's skyline, he was greeted by the city's mayor, Eduardo Paes.
The Prince of Wales not only participated in a volleyball game but also showed off his soccer skills at Maracanã Stadium. He joined local youth and football legend Cafu for drills, even taking a penalty against one of the young players. Like his brother, the Duke of Sussex is also passionate about football, often spotted at charity matches or community football events. He is reportedly a huge fan of Arsenal FC, a Premier League club. While he doesn't play professionally, he participates in friendly charity matches, like William, during Invictus Games events.
Harry, who founded The Invictus Games, has often spoken about the healing power of sports and its benefits on mental health. Reflecting on its many advantages, he told PEOPLE at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler in February, "I wish that we could close this down because there wasn't a need for it, but as long as there's a need for it, we will keep it going." Similarly, as per The Independent, during a 2023 summit in Tokyo on August 9, he beamed, "I have long believed that sport is a conduit for healing – not just for the mind and body but the world…Whether banded together in victory or showing up with respect in loss, no one ever crosses a finish line or scores a goal without the help and belief of others."
Interestingly, sports isn't the only thing the brothers have in common. They are also equally passionate about climate literacy, mental health awareness among youth, and supporting military servicemen and veterans. Like their late mother, Princess Diana, William and Harry have both championed children's welfare, homelessness, environmental issues, and HIV awareness.
