The monarch met Brazilian indigenous leader Chief Raoni Metuktire during
his “final visit” to the UK in a touching moment at St James’s Palace.
King Charles had a heartfelt reunion with an old friend, Chief Raoni
Metuktire, an indigenous leader from Brazil, at St James’s Palace this week.
The meeting, their first in decades, was filled with emotion as the two
elderly men—both lifelong environmental advocates—held hands and reminisced.
Chief Raoni, believed to be around 93 years old, travelled to the UK on what
he described as his “final visit.” The respected leader of the Kayapo people
has spent decades fighting to protect the Amazon rainforest and was even
nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Charles, who has long
supported environmental causes, invited him to London for a reunion that many
viewed as their last in-person meeting.
In a video shared by royal correspondent Rebecca English, the King warmly
grasped Chief Raoni’s hands as they exchanged words through a translator. “I
haven’t seen you for so long,” Charles said, to which the translator replied,
“He’s been waiting for you a long time.” The King nodded, replying softly,
“It’s been a long time.”
The two last met in the 1980s and again in 2009, when Charles, then the Prince
of Wales, visited São Paulo. During their latest meeting, Chief Raoni thanked
the monarch for his enduring support for Brazil’s indigenous communities and
his commitment to preserving the rainforest. He also asked that Charles
continue to back younger generations working to protect the Amazon’s future.
The touching reunion took place during a reception hosted by the Circular
Bioeconomy Alliance, attended by scientists, business leaders, and indigenous
representatives. It served as a poignant reminder of both men’s shared legacy
in championing the planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
