King Charles III and climate summit

King Charles III has decided not to attend the international climate change summit in Egypt next month, fueling speculation that the new monarch will have to rein in his environmental activism now that he has ascended the throne.

The decision came after Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss objected to Charles attending the conference, known as COP27, when she met with the king last month at Buckingham Palace.

Under the rules that govern Britain's constitutional monarchy, the king is barred from interfering in politics. By convention, all official overseas visits by members of the royal family are undertaken in accordance with advice from the government and a decision like this would have resulted from consultation and agreement.

Charles attended the previous climate summit, COP26, last year in Glasgow, Scotland, but his attendance at this year's conference was never confirmed. COP27 is taking place Nov. 16-18 in the Red Sea resort of Sharmel-Sheikh.