Prince Charles Leads the Royal Family as They Host International Leaders at COP26

The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended an evening reception on the opening day of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the reception at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to mark the opening of the conference. Numerous world leaders, politicians, and activists are attending the conference and will be focusing on how best to halt climate change. 

The Prince of Wales addressed world leaders earlier on Monday, stating that a “war-like footing” is needed to fight climate change. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met with Scouts on Monday afternoon to highlight the Scouts’ Promise to Save the Planet campaign and then hosted Earthshot winners at a reception before leaving for Kelvingrove. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both chose to wear blue to the reception, a fitting choice for the location. The Duke wore a navy suit while the Duchess chose a blue Eponine floor-length coat dress. 

The Duchess of Cornwall turned to a favourite designer, Bruce Oldfield, for her teal dress that features buttons recycled from another ensemble. Prince Charles also wore a navy suit. 

Camilla was seen speaking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

The Queen was initially scheduled to be at COP26 but was unable to attend due to health concerns. She recorded a message to those attending the conference that was played at the reception. Her Majesty highlighted the members of her family who have endeavoured to address climate change in her speech.

“This is a duty I am especially happy to discharge, as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. I remember well that in 1969, he told an academic gathering:

” ‘If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be, that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time… If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.”

“It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.”