King Charles is to host a special pre-conference reception ahead of the COP27 summit in Egypt.
It was previously confirmed the monarch will not be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in in Sharm el-Sheikh but it’s now been revealed he will bring together around 200 international business leaders, campaigners and politicians at Buckingham Palace in London for an event to mark the end of the UK’s presidency of COP26.
It will take place on November 4 – two days before COP27 kicks off on November 6.
Guests at the reception will include UK Prime Minister Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – who has also confirmed he does not plan to attend COP27 – as well as COP26 President Alok Sharma and John Kerry who is America’s special envoy on climate change.
There had been speculation King Charles would head to the event in Egypt in his first official overseas trip since becoming monarch as he has previously attended in his role as Prince of Wales and even gave one of the key note speeches at COP26 in Glasgow last year.
However, Buckingham Palace later confirmed the King – who is a longtime campaigner on environmental issues – would not be going.
In his speech at the 2021 Glasgow conference, King Charles called for “a vast military-style campaign” to “marshal the strength of the global private sector” in an effort to bring about changes needed to save the planet.
He added: “I can only urge you, as the world’s decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people.”
