A Cabinet minister has denied claims that Liz Truss ordered the King to stay away from next month’s Cop27 climate change summit in Egypt amid questions over her Government’s commitment to the net-zero target. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles will not be attending the international gathering in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, despite his longstanding and passionate commitment to environmental issues.
The Sunday Times reported that the decision not to go was taken after the Prime Minister raised objections during an audience with the monarch at the Palace last month. However, Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke said the decision had been mutually agreed by the Government and the Palace, while ministers insisted they remain committed to the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“It’s been clear this is a decision that has been made consensually between the King and the Government,” Mr Clarke told Times Radio. “That is a decision that has been made amicably, as far as I am aware, between the Palace and the Government. The suggestions this morning that he was ordered to stay away are simply not true.”
