Prince William has been praised for the way he handled a tough question about his disgraced uncle, Prince Andrew, during a recent interview in Brazil.

The Prince of Wales was speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in a relaxed ‘fireside chat’ as part of his visit to promote the Earthshot Prize, when the conversation briefly turned to his family’s controversies.

Andrew, Duke of York, was stripped of his royal titles and honours in 2022 following widespread backlash over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, he has largely stepped back from public life.

During the interview, Amanpour referred to William’s recent comments about wanting to bring “change for good” when he eventually becomes king, and asked if that goal extended to how he views challenges within his own family.

William chose not to address his uncle directly, instead steering the discussion back to his environmental work. “I want to surround myself with people who want to make change and do good in the world,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience.

The royal spoke enthusiastically about the Earthshot Prize and praised the people involved as “the real action heroes,” insisting that real change “will come from backing them, not by what I do.”

Amanpour again referenced the “recent changes in your family,” but William diplomatically sidestepped the remark, choosing to focus instead on “the brilliant people in this room.” Celebrities including Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes were among those attending the awards event, which celebrates innovation and sustainability.

Kylie praised William and the Earthshot team, calling them “amazing people doing incredible things.”

Royal commentators later applauded William’s tact. One insider told the Daily Mail: “Unlike Harry, William doesn’t air the family laundry in public.”

The future king also spoke about the importance of hope and leadership — both for his children and for future generations.

“You have to provide leadership and a vision that good things are to come,” he said. “For my children especially, I love telling them that the planet will be in a better, healthier state because of the people in this room.”

Referring to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, William added: “Their future is going to be as bright as generations before them, and that’s such an important message for all of us to hear. A world without hope or positivity is a pretty depressing place.”

Ending his speech at the Earthshot event, the Prince reaffirmed his belief in progress despite global uncertainty. “I understand that some might feel discouraged in these uncertain times. But this is no time for complacency. The optimism I felt in 2020 remains strong today. Our finalists show how we can build stronger economies, design healthier cities, and create better jobs for the next generation.”