King decides not to attend Cop27 on the advice of Truss

‘The King had to think very carefully about what steps to take for his first overseas tour’

KING Charles will not be attending the Cop27 international climate change summit as Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, reportedly “advised” him to stay away.

The King had intended to travel to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in November to push his green agenda and announce a new forum on sustainability.

However, he has decided to avoid the gathering of world leaders, as well as a tour of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan that was due to precede it, this newspaper disclosed last month. It has now emerged that his absence may have been prompted by government advice.

Ms Truss is said to have objected to him attending the gathering during a personal audience at Buckingham Palace last month. By convention, all overseas official visits by members of the Royal family are undertaken in accordance with advice from the Government.

The Sunday Times quoted a senior royal source as saying: “It is no mystery that the King was invited to go there. He had to think very carefully about what steps to take for his first overseas tour, and he is not going to be attending Cop.”

The source said the decision was made “entirely in the spirit of being ever-mindful as King that he acts on government advice”.

The Terra Carta Action Forum, or Earth Charter – a 10-year “recovery plan” for the private sector – is to take place during the Cop27 climate talks on Nov 7 and 8. It is being hosted by the King’s Sustainable Markets Initiative, launched by His Majesty last January.

The King still hopes to be able to contribute in some form to the conference. He and the Prince of Wales, the thenDuke of Cambridge, both spoke at last year’s Cop26 event while Queen Elizabeth recorded an opening address urging the assembled world leaders to take action on climate change.

Palace sources have indicated that the King will continue to champion the environment.

However, he will “highlight” rather than campaign in the manner he has done for decades.

Downing Street said: “We do not comment on private meetings between HM the King and the Prime Minister.”

A government source said: “The Palace and the Government considered separately, and then agreed jointly, that there might be more suitable options for HM the King’s first state visit.”