Downing Street DID agree King Charles would skip the COP27 climate summit, the Prime Minister's office confirmed today.
No10 clarified the situation after claims emerged earlier this month that Liz Truss had “blocked” the monarch from visiting the talks in Egypt.
Before she resigned, No10 insisted Ms Truss “made clear she does not decide where the King goes.”
But today a No10 spokeswoman said: “As is standard practice, government advice was sought and provided under a previous Prime Minister. And it was unanimously agreed this would not be the right occasion for the King to visit in person.”
It came as a blue-on-blue spat erupted over Rishi Sunak ’s decision to snub the summit - and the Tories were accused of a "monumental dereliction of duty" for missing climate targets.
No10 confirmed Rishi Sunak would not attend the summit, insisting the new PM had to focus on domestic issues.
Former Business Secretary Jacob Rees Mogg - who was in charge of UK climate policy until this week - tweeted: “The cost of living won’t be solved in Sharm el Sheikh where each hotel room for the conference is £2,000 a night.”
But even controversial Tory Nadine Dorries swiped: "For balance, my friend…The Prime Minister is WRONG not to go to COP.
"Global warming is the biggest crisis facing our planet and net zero creates many 1000s of jobs which is good for the economy. COP in Glasgow was most successful ever… but don’t expect media to report that."
COP26 President Alok Sharma - who no longer attends Cabinet under the new PM - said he was “disappointed” Mr Sunak would not attend the summit.
But he insisted the UK would be represented “in force”.
Mr Sharma said: “Well, I'm disappointed but of course the Prime Minister has got a big inbox of domestic issues to deal with…
"I'll be going to Cop 27. I'll be negotiating and leading the negotiations on behalf of the UK. We will have other senior ministers there as well. So we will be there in force.”
Meanwhile the Tory government was accused of a "monumental dereliction of duty" after admitting it will miss an October 31 deadline to introduce a string of planned environmental targets.
They included cutting the most harmful air pollution exposure by a third, and raising species populations 10% by 2042.
A consultation opened in March but Environment Secretary Therese Coffey told MPs: "In light of the volume of material and the significant public response we will not be able to publish targets by 31 October, as required by the Environment Act.
"However, I would like to reassure this House and all interested parties that we will continue to work at pace in order to lay draft statutory instruments as soon as practicable."
Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon blasted it was a “huge embarrassment and deeply worrying for the UK’s environment.
“Failing to meet the legal deadline to introduce targets to ensure we have clean air land and water amounts to a monumental dereliction of duty."
No10 insisted it had “hit or exceeded every carbon budget” faster than any other G7 country.
Previously a royal source had stressed the King - an outspoken campaigner against climate change when he was Prince of Wales - “remains ever mindful” of his “constitutional role”.
The royal source added at the time: “Government advice was sought, advice was given and advice was appreciated."
Dr Coffey defended Rishi Sunak ’s no-show at the COP27 climate talks - by claiming the gathering in Egypt was “low key” and the “big political” summits only happen every five years, like Glasgow 2021.
She told Sky News: “I am not aware of, say, President Biden or President Macron or any of those other people will be there.”
But according to reports in the Washington Post and the BBC, the US President is planning to attend next month’s Egypt talks.
When Dr Coffey - who will attend the summit herself with other senior ministers - spoke to BBC Breakfast half an hour later, she dropped President Biden’s name from her claim.
Dr Coffey made another gaffe when she claimed Rishi Sunak will be too busy - because Britain’s postponed financial statement will be “right in the middle of the COP summit”.
Despite her claim, the Egypt summit runs from November 6-18 and the Autumn Statement will be on November 17, right at the end.
The opening plenaries and “high-level segment” are due to take place on the first three days from November 6-8.
Mr Sunak denied his absence at COP27 was a failure of leadership, arguing it is "right" for him to focus on economic challenges at home.
He said he was "really proud" of the UK's record on tackling climate change, adding: “The leadership that we have shown on the climate is unmatched almost along the world."
Speaking during a visit to a hospital in south London, he added: "It's important to me that as Prime Minister we leave behind an environment that is better for our children and grandchildren. I'm very passionate about that. I'm very personally committed to it.
"I just think, at the moment, it's right that I'm also focusing on the depressing domestic challenges we have with the economy. I think that's what people watching would reasonably expect me to be doing as well."
