Prince William Delights Shawn Mendes' Mom with Surprise Birthday Cake

On November 5, 2025, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, attended the fifth edition of his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the event, he met up with singer Shawn Mendes, who shared a heartwarming story about the royal's thoughtful gesture.

Mendes revealed that William had surprised his mother, Karen, with a birthday cake after learning it was her special day on Sunday. The "Señorita" singer expressed his gratitude, saying, "She's still shaking, thank you." Karen, who is originally from Dorset, England, had her birthday celebrated in a special way by the future king.

The Earthshot Prize, created by Prince William in 2020, aims to inspire solutions to the world's most pressing environmental issues over the next decade. This year, over 2,400 submissions were received across the prize's five flagship sectors: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.

Mendes, along with other performers like Anitta, Seu Jorge, and Kylie Minogue, took the stage at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio to be a part of the prestigious event. The singer had met William earlier in the day during rehearsals and greeted him warmly on the green carpet.

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, expressed his pride in hosting the Earthshot Prize ceremony, stating, "He's an amazing guy. It's been very nice to see. He took everyone's heart in Rio and we're very proud to have him here."