King Charles and Prince William made a rare joint appearance in London on Thursday, just as the heir to the throne announced a major trip he will undertake in the coming weeks. The King and the Prince of Wales beamed as they arrived at the Natural History Museum for a Countdown to COP30 reception on Thursday evening.
Father and son were seen chatting as they walked up the steps to the entrance before meeting a host of politicians, including former prime minister Theresa May, inside. The Natural History Museum’s director, Dr Doug Gurr, said it was an “honour” that “two of the most dedicated champions of the natural world” had attended the event.
The event is designed to highlight environmental challenges ahead of the climate talks in six weeks.
The museum and the UK Government hosted it in the vast Hintze Hall, and attendees included Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds.
The guest list also included global climate ambassadors from the private sector, scientific research and environmental charities, including a delegation from Brazil.
It comes as Kensington Palace announced that the Prince of Wales will attend the COP30 global climate change summit in Brazil in November.
William is travelling to the South American country for his Earthshot Prize awards in Rio next month, but will stay on to join world leaders at the UN conference in Belem in the Amazon.
Kensington Palace confirmed the prince is to attend the summit on behalf of his father, and to give a speech, with the announcement seen as a major development of the heir to the throne’s responsibilities on the world stage.
The King, 76, who is still being treated for cancer, previously led the event in person on the royal front.
However, he missed COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024 after being diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.
It will be the first time William has travelled internationally for a COP summit, having previously attended COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, as did Charles.
The King and the heir were last pictured at the same London museum together in 2019, when the Duke of Sussex was also in attendance. At the time, the trio – whose relationship is believed to be strained – joined Sir David Attenborough for the premiere of the broadcaster’s Our Planet series.
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