Earlier in the week, William had kicked off his trip with a penalty shootout at Rio’s Maracana Stadium before engaging with local youth and environmental leaders.

However, his lighthearted beach outing divided opinion online.

“Shame on William. His only role is to protect his subjects, not strut on the world stage,” one critic wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Another added: “William’s got sand between his toes, but I’m still trying to figure out why anyone cares about some rich dude’s vacation plans.”

Others came to his defense, calling the backlash unnecessary. “Prince William playing volleyball is so fun to watch,” one fan posted. “He looks so happy — it’s nice to see him relaxed after everything his family has been through.” Another admirer commented, “He’s clearly connecting with people and enjoying himself. Good for him.”

The friendly game was part of a broader effort to highlight community initiatives ahead of this week’s environmental events — but with royal tensions already running high, even a casual day on the beach proved enough to set the internet talking.