King Charles came face to face with a life size gorilla puppet and greeted the wooden ape with a handshake as part of reception at Lancaster House today.
The event brought together business leaders, indigenous representatives, NGOs and government officials to explore practical solutions for integrating nature into business practices.
During the engagement, Charles was treated to a performance by puppet collective The Herds, which featured life-sized animal puppets operated by artists who are travelling from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle.
The group aims to raise awareness about humanity's connection with the natural world and the effects of climate change.
King Charles faced down a puppet gorilla during a reception at Lancaster House.
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The performance, witnessed by reception guests alongside His Majesty, served as a powerful visual representation of the environmental themes discussed throughout the day's events.
In one particularly strange moment, Charles faced down a gorilla puppet being operated by two activists as it slowly moved towards him.
He stood face to face with the creature as it moved rhythmically with the music before one of the operators gently lifted its arm in a pantomime inquisitive gesture.
As onlookers watched on, the King reached out and squeezed the hand of the puppet with a grin.
The puppet was part of a performance from conservationist group The Herds, aimed at raising awareness of the human impact on the natural world.
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The event took place in the Grand Hall of Lancaster House, which was famously used multiple times as a shooting location in Netflix’s The Crown.
The King gathered with guests following the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) Nature Action: Mobilising Frameworks and Finance.
During the reception, His Majesty spoke with attendees about their commitment to supporting nature and climate initiatives.
He heard directly from businesses and individuals who participated in the earlier sessions about the outcomes of their discussions.
The King also met with guests to discuss practical solutions for integrating nature into business practices.
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The King also met with Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, in preparation for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) scheduled to take place in Belém.
His Majesty viewed images from the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, with museum representatives explaining how the photographs illustrate the impact of human activity on the natural world.
The exhibition forms part of the reception's broader focus on highlighting the intersection between human actions and environmental consequences, reinforcing the urgent need for sustainable practices across all sectors of society and business.
Today's show of solidarity from the King is just the latest in his efforts to raise awareness for conservation.
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Charles was also shown snaps form the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
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Charles's environmental advocacy spans more than five decades, beginning in 1970 when, aged just 21, he delivered a speech warning about plastic pollution in the oceans.
As Prince of Wales, His Majesty established the International Sustainability Unit in 2010 to tackle deforestation and marine ecosystem challenges, and founded The Royal Countryside Fund to support farmers and promote sustainable agriculture.
In 2020, he launched both The Sustainable Markets Initiative, a global network of chief executives driving transformative action across key economic sectors, and the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, which funds projects accelerating the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
His Majesty has delivered influential speeches at major global forums including COP21 in Paris, COP26 in Glasgow, and COP28 in Dubai.
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