Despite record-breaking temperatures across the UK last week—and oppressive, sweltering heat—the King continued carrying out his royal duties, opting for a refreshingly down-to-earth solution to the heatwave.
A Royal Response to Extreme Heat
King Charles attended events during London Climate Week, addressing historic weather conditions in his remarks. At one point, visibly affected by the intense heat, he asked a royal aide to bring him something to cool down.
Fan in Hand at St James’s Palace
In photographs from a reception held at St James’s Palace, Rear Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt—Head of the Monarch’s Household—was seen using a battery-powered handheld fan to cool the King as he spoke with guests. Though several fans had been placed around the palace, they offered little relief amid the unprecedented heat.
Dressed in a formal suit and tie, the King was photographed wiping sweat from his face—an image that quickly went viral online. The candid moment underscored both the severity of the UK’s current heatwave and the monarch’s unpretentious approach to enduring it.