The United Kingdom has had two new faces come face-to-face to discuss social and political issues: British Prime Minister Liz Truss (who replaced Boris Johnson in 2022) and King Charles III, who took over as sovereign following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September. Neither is naive about the rules, regulations and expectations of their positions, but it would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall during a chat between them, as Prime Minister Truss visited the King in Buckingham Palace last month.
During that meeting, the two decided, seemingly in common, and in an amicable way, that King Charles III will not be attending the international climate summit scheduled for Egypt next month. Climate issues are of considerable importance to King Charles. A report in The Sunday Times suggested that King Charles III made the decision after being advised by Prime Minister Truss not to attend this year’s summit. However, according to cabinet member, Minister for State Simon Clarke, both the government and the Palace made that decision, mutually.
Secretary Clarke said as far as he knew, both the government and the Palace felt that the King should not attend the summit, and any suggestion the Prime Minister had ordered the King not to attend was misinformed. Clarke dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister did not want King Charles III to attend the summit because she wanted to bring about changes in the nation’s climate policies. He insisted the British government’s pledge to reduce greenhouse emissions to net-zero by 2050 was still the top priority.
The rules surrounding Britain’s constitutional monarchy prohibit the King, as well as other royalty, from interfering with politics. All official international visits made by members of the Royal Family have to have government approval.
Before the death of Queen Elizabeth II earlier last month, King Charles III, previously known as Prince Charles, had planned a trip to the COP27 climate summit that is being held this year in Egypt from November 16-18 in the Red Sea resort. Charles attended the previous year’s climate summit, COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland. At last year’s conference, Charles called on the world to recognize that the window of opportunity for recovery from climate change and global warming is a dangerously small one.
His warning seems more urgent now, as we are seeing the extreme flooding in Pakistan, which has been going on for four months, killing over 1,600 people. Hurricane Ian devastated Florida and Cuba, leaving behind destruction and a trail of death. These are only two examples among many.
Before ascending to the throne, King Charles III faced multiple accusations that he was interfering with the affairs of the state and pressuring the government ministers. When he became King, Charles acknowledged his freedom to speak on public issues would be curtailed.
Charles’ advisers will choose the right opportunities for the King to travel abroad and speak out as the sovereign. The question of the trip to the climate summit comes at the height of a slew of criticisms that have been leveled at the Palace since the Queen died, with long-running arguments over whether the monarchy still has a relevant place in contemporary society.
Addressing the country following the Queen’s death, King Charles III said the responsibility that he had taken on as King was going to change his life, and that he was going to have to cut down the amount of time and effort that he had dedicated to charities and issues he personally cares about.