King Charles left fashion designer Stella McCartney flustered after she forgot how to greet him at a Buckingham Palace reception ahead of the the UN climate change summit Cop27.
The King hosted the reception for politicians and business figures from across the globe with notable guests also including the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Mr Sunak was seen introducing the daughter of Beatle Sir Paul McCartney to the King, who has met the designer and worked together with her several times in the past when he was Prince of Wales.
Charles greeted her with kisses on the cheeks as Stella said: "Your Majesty, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do any more."
She then followed up with: "I think I'm supposed to do this now" before performing a deep curtsy and letting out a little squeal, leaving the King and PM giggling.
Mr Sunak revealed how he saw a lot of the fashion designer as their children went to the same school.
Charles thanked them for attending the event and the Prime Minister replied: "It's all about what you’ve done."
Elsewhere at the reception, the King was praised for his "longstanding and far-sighted leadership" and for urging world and business leaders to act on climate change.
More than 200 international leaders, decision makers and NGOs gathered to mark the end of the UK's presidency of Cop26, before next week's summit begins in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Mr Sunak, who in yet another U-turn this week announced he would now attend next week's summit, directed a speech to the monarch, saying: "His Majesty has been working to help find practical solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss for more than 50 years, long before Cop 1, let alone Cop 27.
"I believe the agreements we reached in Glasgow are a source of hope for the world."
Before the death of his late mother Queen Elizabeth, the King was due to attend the Egypt gathering. But former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who lasted just 44 days in the job, advised the King to stay away which Buckingham Palace claimed was "unanimously agreed on".
Ms McCartney, who wore a burgundy viscose imitation leather caped dress and boots, also hailed Charles' leadership on climate change which she described as "the biggest crisis".
She said: "I think it's so important that he’s using his position to bring people together, he's a great believer in positive change, he has a true passion and true desire to create positive solutions."
When asked if she would have liked to see Charles attend Cop27 in Egypt, the environmental activist said: "I think it's good to have him everywhere talking about this subject, but it wasn't possible."
Charles will not attend Cop27 after seeking advice from the government on his attendance, a decision which some close to him have said left him "disappointed".
The King was active at last year's Cop26 summit in Glasgow, delivering a speech calling for the private sector to pledge "trillions, not billions of dollars" to a "vast, military-style campaign" to tackle climate change and the issue of sustainable business innovations.
Other notable guests at today's reception included philanthropist and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for climate ambition and solutions, and the Cop President the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, who last week criticised the Prime Minister for appearing to snub next week’s summit, before Sunak’s U-turn.
Despite Mr Sunak’s U-turn, Charles is still not going to attend the environmental event, but today told the PM: "I’m very grateful for you being here."
The Prime Minister replied: "This is incredibly important. This is all about what you have done."
Charles then chatted to Mr Sunak about next week’s Cop27 summit, and the Prime Minister could be heard saying to him: "I think we're in good shape."
During his speech, Mr Sunak also referenced Queen Elizabeth’s virtual address to the Cop26 summit, when the late monarch called on world leaders to come together to act on climate change, adding: "The UK’s Cop presidency may be coming to an end, but our global leadership will continue."
It was also reported this week that Sunak "privately dropped" the government’s objections to Charles attending Cop27, but it was too late to arrange a last-minute visit for the King.
