King Charles was seen being fanned by an aide during a diplomatic reception at St James's Palace on Wednesday, as the UK experienced its hottest June day on record. The Met Office reported a temperature of 35.8C, breaking the previous record from 1976.
Royal Aide Provides Relief
Master of the Household, retired Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, held a small electric fan close to the King as he chatted with guests. St James's Palace, a historic building, lacks air conditioning, prompting large fans to be placed around the rooms and traditional hand-held fans distributed to attendees.
Climate Reception Amidst Heat
The reception, part of London Climate Action Week, focused on accelerating action on super-pollutants. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband spoke at the event, noting the irony of the heat: “The very fact that we have to do that here in the UK in June says quite a lot about the circumstances that we are in.” He later added, “This didn’t used to be normal, but unfortunately, it is now the new normal.”
Health Precautions Taken
Miliband also made “safety announcements,” informing guests that a nurse was available and a quieter room was provided for those affected by the heat. Many attendees mopped sweat from their brows and fanned themselves as windows remained closed and curtains drawn against the heat.
Super-Pollutant Focus
The event, hosted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, featured speakers including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. King Charles viewed displays on super-pollutants and learned about mitigation efforts from organizations such as the Clean Air Task Force, Clean Air Fund, and Wellcome Trust.
Miliband's Warning
Miliband concluded: “We know we have to, because we know this is at best the new normal and at worst the coolest summers we’re going to have in the future, and that is a very chastening thought.”
