Prince William has found himself at the center of an online debate after photos of him enjoying a game of beach volleyball in Brazil went viral — just days after Buckingham Palace announced that his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, had been formally stripped of his royal titles and honors.

The Palace confirmed on 30 October that Andrew, formerly known as Prince Andrew, would lose all official styles and privileges following renewed allegations over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” read the statement. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”

The Palace added that Andrew’s lease on Royal Lodge, which had provided him with legal protections to remain in residence, would also be terminated. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation,” the statement continued.

Just days after that announcement, the Prince of Wales was photographed smiling and laughing as he joined a friendly volleyball match on Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach. The game took place on Monday, 3 November, as part of his official visit to Brazil for the annual Earthshot Awards and the upcoming COP30 UN climate conference.