King Charles III will not attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month, after reports he was advised not to by British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The new monarch is a long time environmental campaigner, and had indicated he would attend this year's event, according to the BBC.
The palace told the BBC that advice had been sought by the King and given by Ms Truss, and it was "with mutual friendship and respect there was agreement that the King would not attend".
The decision was made after Ms Truss objected at a meeting with the King at Buckingham Palace last month, according to the UK's Sunday Times newspaper.
Cabinet minister Simon Clarke told Times Radio "the suggestions ... that he was ordered to stay away are simply not true".
He also rejected suggestions Ms Truss did not want Charles to attend because she plans to water down Britain's climate goals.
He said the government is committed to its net-zero carbon emissions 2050 target.
Under the rules that govern Britain's constitutional monarchy, the sovereign is barred from interfering in politics.
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood said he hoped "common sense" would win out and the King would attend the event, asking "can we really go from hosting COP26 to benching soft power at COP27?"
Before Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, there had been speculation Charles would travel to the summit as the Prince of Wales.
Charles spoke at COP26 in Glasgow last year, as did his late mother, but his attendance at this year's conference was never confirmed.
As Prince of Wales, he was accused of meddling in government affairs, including allegations he inappropriately lobbied government ministers.
As King, he has acknowledged he will have less freedom to advocate for his causes.
"My life will, of course, change as I take up my new responsibilities,'' Charles said in a televised address after his mother's death.
"It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others."
ABC/AP
