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The royal family
Original poster

Liz Truss told Charles not to go to Cop27

39 replies

antelopevalley · 03/10/2022 20:13

The Sunday Times broke this story that King Charles had been due to go to Cop27 in Egypt and was planning to make a speech. Truss apparently in a personal meeting said he should not go. The Queen attended and made a speech at Cop26 so there is clear precedent there.

So do we think Truss should have told Charles not to go to Cop27?

OP posts:
Grandeur · 03/10/2022 20:15

Why is he taking advice from Liz Truss? Confused

BrutusMcDogface · 03/10/2022 20:16

Is he under her direction? 🤔

Original poster
antelopevalley · 03/10/2022 20:17

Apparently he is?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 03/10/2022 20:17

Presumably as HoS he has to take greater security advice.

CoP26 was in Glasgow so not comparable...

Quveas · 03/10/2022 20:19

Not a fan of either.

The monarch is not permitted to express opinions, right or wrong.

Jellykat · 03/10/2022 20:21

I think its fucked up.. apart from the fact its an important subject Charles is passionate and knowledgeable in, Truss is hardly a decision maker anyone should take advice from!
Why oh why did he listen??

Frazzled2207 · 03/10/2022 20:22

I really don’t understand why he didn’t tell her to f* off.
he doesn’t have to make the appearance political

wordler · 03/10/2022 20:23

BrutusMcDogface · 03/10/2022 20:16

Is he under her direction? 🤔

Yes - most of the overseas official trips, and all of the state visits of foreign leaders to the UK are at the direction of the government - that's one of the main points of the royal family - they are used like a bargaining chip by the government of the day/foreign office to get deals they want in return.

There's probably either a security issue or a diplomatic issue with Charles going now that he's head of state rather than just the heir.

AprilShowers23 · 03/10/2022 20:25

I think he would want to go. Could he not do his speech via a video link if it was for security reasons?

Original poster
antelopevalley · 03/10/2022 20:25

It is not a security issue. There are Prime Ministers attending from many countries.
The rumours are that it would be embarrassing for Truss as her intention is to ditch the climate change targets we have signed up to.

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 03/10/2022 20:28

Saved a flight to Egypt, though.

Grandeur · 03/10/2022 20:31

antelopevalley · 03/10/2022 20:25

It is not a security issue. There are Prime Ministers attending from many countries.
The rumours are that it would be embarrassing for Truss as her intention is to ditch the climate change targets we have signed up to.

So he's being political then? This is exactly what the monarchy are supposed to avoid. Bad, bad move.

Jellykat · 03/10/2022 20:35

wordler · 03/10/2022 20:23

Yes - most of the overseas official trips, and all of the state visits of foreign leaders to the UK are at the direction of the government - that's one of the main points of the royal family - they are used like a bargaining chip by the government of the day/foreign office to get deals they want in return.

There's probably either a security issue or a diplomatic issue with Charles going now that he's head of state rather than just the heir.

Show quote history

I dont get it though, Boris had to see the queen with his resignation, and Truss had to see her to be appointed (or whatever its called).
Surely that implies royalty trumps the PM?

Readinginthesun · 03/10/2022 20:35

Is it because - as Monarch- he cannot be political ? He said as much in his first speech as King .

Grandeur · 03/10/2022 20:39

Readinginthesun · 03/10/2022 20:35

Is it because - as Monarch- he cannot be political ? He said as much in his first speech as King .

No. He IS being political by agreeing to drop out to not embarrass Liz Truss over her climate change policies.

Cheguevarahamster · 03/10/2022 20:40

Charles is a massive hypocrite and should not attend. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-charles-accused-staggering-hypocrisy-25617982.amp

MangshorJhol · 03/10/2022 20:41

Because surely he's a titular head of state. The UK is a democracy and Charles is only head of state in name. If the head of government says no to something then if he defies it, there might be a constitutional crisis.
It brings the question back to why does a democracy like Britain even have a monarch?
The appointment of Truss and BoJo is largely constitutional theatre. Very technically she could have invited someone else to form a government but this would again (like Charles going to COP27) set a very bad precedent. These meetings between the monarch and the PM, again this is theatre- the monarch can advise. But the elected government of the day runs the country.

MangshorJhol · 03/10/2022 20:43

In other words the monarch is constitutionally bound to accept the advice of the Prime Minister...

Fingernails4Cash · 03/10/2022 20:48

It's messed up.
HMQ/K have to take advice from government.
On this sort of matter you could make an argument that's not not a political issue (as in party politics) but it's thin ice.
Anyway I think HMK is following the rules especially as he's a newbie. And this is what PM says so he's following it.
Another reason to question this ridiculous government.

RoseyPalm · 03/10/2022 20:52

I think it right not to go at this time.
In Mourning, so close to him taking over
Truss a very new PM. The monarch always acts on advice from Govt.
A difference of policy between King and Govt is the WORST thing that can happen. Watch newsreels about 1936/7 and the Abdication.
However remote, the chance of disagreement it must be avoided.
In 2 years time it may be an easy decision to go.

Zosime · 03/10/2022 21:00

Why is he taking advice from Liz Truss?

Because the sovereign acts on the advice of his or her ministers. He or she may not agree with the advice on a personal level, but that's how a constitutional monarchy works.

HeddaGarbled · 03/10/2022 21:03

He IS being political by agreeing to drop out to not embarrass Liz Truss over her climate change policies

No, he is being apolitical.

puddingandsun · 03/10/2022 21:09

I dont get it though, Boris had to see the queen with his resignation, and Truss had to see her to be appointed (or whatever its called).
Surely that implies royalty trumps the PM?

Nope- it's the other way around. Royalty is only a formality with zero powers.

Serenster · 03/10/2022 21:32

Nope- it's the other way around. Royalty is only a formality with zero powers.

Exactly. The late Queen was told to host Ceacescu of Romania/Trump/Mugabe for a state visit, she has to do so. The government tells Charles that they don’t want him to attend COP, he has to accede. The governments do the politics, the head of state doesn’t interfere.

InterestQ · 03/10/2022 21:35

He needs to do what he’s told. He wasn’t elected. He knows that - HMQ did what she was told by the PM and he spent 50 years, thanks to her not abdicating, being able to express mild opinions. He now has to zip it. Which he knows.