King Charles III not to attend COP27 climate summit

LONDON: King Charles III will not be traveling to the UN climate summit in Egypt next month, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday, after UK Prime Minister Liz Truss reportedly objected to the keen environmentalist attending.

Britain's new monarch, who took the throne when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II died last month, planned to deliver a speech to world leaders at the COP 27 summit on November 6 to Nov 18, according to the Sunday Times.

But the plan has been axed after Truss - who was appointed prime minister by the late queen just two days before the latter died - opposes it during a personal audience with Charles at the palace last month, the newspaper said.

Queen Elizabeth spoke at the last UN climate summit in November 2021, with the blessing of the Tory government led by Truss's predecessor Boris Johnson.

The king's office appeared to distance itself from the incendiary newspaper report, insisting that the king had sought Truss' advice.

There was agreement that the king would not attend, according to a statement from the BBC.

The Sunday Times story comes amid speculation that Britain's new leader, already under fire over her economic plans that have sparked market turmoil, could scale back the country's legally binding commitments.

Her cabinet contains a number of ministers who have expressed scepticism about the so-called 2050 net zero goals, while Truss is seen as less enthusiastic about the policy than predecessor Johnson.

The newspaper said she is unlikely to attend the COP 27 -- the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Britain hosted the last summit, COP 26, in Glasgow. Charles and his son William addressed the event as well as the late queen.