It’s not every day you see a King smiling at a life-sized cardboard gorilla puppet, but that’s exactly what happened recently when King Charles stepped into a unique climate finance reception at Lancaster House.
It might have been an unusual handshake, but the monarch handled it with his usual good-natured charm.
When Puppets and Royal Protocol Collide
As part of the afternoon’s event, the King witnessed an eye-catching performance by The Herds—a troupe of artists operating life-sized animal puppets.
Slowly, the creatures descended a grand staircase before one particularly bold gorilla approached the King and offered a handshake.
Charles didn’t flinch. Instead, he welcomed the moment with a warm smile.
This public art initiative is journeying from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, hoping to spotlight our deep connection with nature and how climate change affects it.
Their arrival in London kicks off a weekend of performances across major city landmarks.
From Honey Talks to Hollywood Glamour
Earlier at the event, the King mingled with a wide range of guests—from climate leaders to government officials.
One such conversation stood out: Niue’s Minister of Natural Resources, Mona Ainu’u, gifted the King a jar of locally-produced honey, saying, “We heard you love honey in your tea.”
His response? A laugh, followed by a cheeky quote from Dame Barbara Cartland: “A spoonful of honey a day keeps you more than lovable!”
Though he confessed he hasn’t yet visited Niue, Charles reassured her that it’s still on his travel wishlist.
Conversations with Global Leaders
Also in attendance was Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva.
The King warmly told her to “give my regards to your president” and acknowledged the hard work being done for COP30.
When invited to attend the climate conference in Belém this November, Charles responded enthusiastically but added with a grin, “It’s fitting it all in.”
UN Goodwill Ambassador Sabrina Elba, wife of actor Idris Elba, was there too.
She congratulated the King on their upcoming Netflix documentary celebrating 50 years of the King’s Trust.
“Your documentary has been announced!” she told him, to which the monarch responded with amusing confusion: “Which documentary?”—a moment that had everyone chuckling.
Supporting Innovation and the Pharmaceutical Industry
While chatting with biotech entrepreneurs Oliver Vince and Glen Gowers, co-founders of Basecamp Research, Charles expressed his interest in encouraging more pharmaceutical companies to support environmental research.
“It’s in their interests,” he noted, keen to see more cross-industry collaboration for sustainability.
Artists, Alumni, and a Royal Drawing School Celebration
The day wasn’t done yet. In another part of London, St James’s Palace hosted a creative celebration marking 25 years of the Royal Drawing School—a passion project the King founded while he was still Prince of Wales.
The event brought together art world heavyweights like Dame Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry, both of whom praised the King for his dedication to the arts.
Emin called the UK “lucky” to have a monarch who truly cares about creativity.
Perry, known for his eclectic style, showed up in orange Crocs to match his bright dress—while Emin opted for a more subtle Croc choice.
A Look Back Through Art
To commemorate the Drawing School’s silver anniversary, a special exhibit titled The Power of Drawing will be open to the public from July 1 to 26 at the school’s Shoreditch campus.
The show features works from 50 acclaimed artists and alumni—including a 2000 sketch by the King himself of his beloved Highgrove estate.
What’s Next for the King?
From puppets and climate talks to mingling with movie stars and celebrating art, King Charles’s calendar is as dynamic as ever.
With COP30 in Brazil on the horizon and a Netflix documentary in the works, it looks like the monarch won’t be slowing down anytime soon.