You’ve probably seen King Charles shake hands with presidents, prime ministers, and royalty over the years—but not many people can say they’ve seen him reach out to a cardboard gorilla puppet.
Yet that’s exactly what happened at a lively climate event in London this week, and the King handled it all with his trademark calm and charm.
A Royal Welcome for The Herds
The 76-year-old monarch was attending a climate finance reception at Lancaster House when a performance by The Herds stole the show.
These life-sized animal puppets, created to raise awareness about climate change and humanity’s connection to nature, made a dramatic entrance down the staircase.
One towering gorilla even walked up to the King and extended a hand—King Charles didn’t hesitate to greet it, smiling warmly as if it were an old friend.
The puppet troupe is on a symbolic journey from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle and will be performing at various London landmarks over the weekend.
Conversations Over Honey, Climate, and Cop30
Earlier at the event, the King mingled with government officials, environmental leaders, and indigenous representatives.
One particularly sweet moment came when Mona Ainu’u, the Minister of Natural Resources from the South Pacific island of Niue, handed him a jar of honey.
“We heard that you love honey in your tea,” she said.
Charles chuckled and replied, “Where did you hear that?” before quoting Dame Barbara Cartland: “A spoonful of honey a day keeps you more than lovable.”
He expressed his ongoing desire to visit Niue someday, though his schedule always seems to get in the way.
He also chatted with Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva, expressing support for the country’s efforts around Cop30, the upcoming UN climate conference.
Though he said he’d love to attend the event in Belém, Brazil, he noted with a grin, “It’s fitting it all in.”
A Netflix Documentary… That Slipped His Mind
Also present was Sabrina Elba, wife of actor Idris Elba and a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
She congratulated the King on the announcement of a Netflix documentary marking the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust, which he’s co-producing with Idris.
The King, however, looked a little puzzled. “Which documentary?” he asked.
Elba laughed, reminding him of their recent collaboration.
Apparently, keeping track of his projects is a full-time job in itself.
Celebrities Pack Buckingham Palace for King’s Trust Awards
Later that evening, the royal spotlight shifted to Buckingham Palace, where the King’s Trust Awards attracted a dazzling lineup of famous faces.
Among them were George and Amal Clooney, Charlotte Tilbury, Dame Joanna Lumley, Declan Donnelly, Fearne Cotton, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and even members of the Sugababes.
The vibe was warm and celebratory, with many guests seen chatting casually with the King, who appeared in great spirits.
Royal Drawing School Turns 25 With Praise from Art Legends
And the celebrations didn’t stop there. The King was also honored this week for a very personal project close to his heart—the 25th anniversary of the Royal Drawing School, which he founded back when he was still the Prince of Wales.
Famous artists like Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry praised his unwavering support for the arts.
Emin called Britain “lucky to have” a monarch who truly values creativity, while Perry, dressed in bright orange and a pair of painted Crocs, described Charles as “very special.”
A special anniversary exhibition titled The Power of Drawing will be open to the public at the Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch from July 1 to 26, featuring works from 50 artists, including the King himself.
One standout piece? A personal sketch of Highgrove House from the year 2000.
A Week That Showed the King’s Versatility
From talking climate policy and greeting gorilla puppets to celebrating art and film, King Charles’s week was a perfect example of his modern reign—blending tradition with creativity, and high-level diplomacy with heartfelt causes.
And if you’re wondering—yes, even monarchs sometimes forget which documentary they’ve signed up for.