British King Charles decided not to attend the COP29 climate summit hosted by Azerbaijan in November, amid his ongoing treatment for cancer.
The king has long campaigned on environmental issues but will miss the UN meeting being held in the oil-rich country from November 11 to 22, according to The Telegraph.
The king has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early 2024, and the global climate conference will begin just over two weeks after the end of the King and Queen Camilla’s long trip to Australia and Samoa.
Charles told attendees at the 2023 summit that the world is still “off track” when it comes to meeting climate targets.
Sources told a local British newspaper that “extreme caution” is required with the king’s current schedule.
“The government has not asked him to attend the event and he is also aware of his own obligations after the upcoming fall tour… and he is already incredibly busy,” one source said.
The source indicated that “a decision has been made not to attend the conference this year.”
Charles’ team has curtailed the overseas tour on doctor’s advice, with the visit to New Zealand dropped from the schedule amid other program changes.
At the time of announcing the visit, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We have had to make some difficult decisions about the program with the Australian government… and about where the King can go.”
The King will also stop his cancer treatment during the 11 days he will spend away from the United Kingdom.
