King Charles, who has been an environmental activist for decades, will host world leaders, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (who withdrew from the meeting last week) and John Kerry, the US special envoy on climate change.

King Charles will host a banquet at Buckingham Palace for key COP27 figures on Friday, despite not attending the conference.

On November 6, the United Nations Climate Change Conference opens in Egypt, but the King, who has been an ardent environmentalist, will not be attending.

The reception will bring together more than 200 international business leaders, decision-makers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to celebrate the completion of the United Kingdom’s COP26 presidency and to look ahead to the COP27 conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The purpose of the gathering is to enable conversation on sustainable growth, progress made since COP26 in Glasgow, and continued joint efforts to combat climate change.

The King has participated in the UN climate conference for several years and delivered one of the keynote addresses at the COP26 opening ceremony in Glasgow.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who skipped the summit last week to focus on “internal concerns” in the United Kingdom, will be among the guests. He will likely provide a brief address at the ceremony.

Alok Sharma, who lost his cabinet position in the most recent reshuffle, will also be present, as will John Kerry, the United States special envoy for climate change.

Mr. Sunak’s decision not to attend the event has been criticized, with Labour leader Keir Starmer stating that the prime minister missed an opportunity to “bring international leaders together.”

Former energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg stated earlier this week that Mr. Sunak was correct not to attend the summit, stating, “The expense of living will not be solved in Sharm el-Sheikh, where each hotel room for the conference costs £2,000 per night.”