King Charles demonstrated his commitment to environmental causes on Saturday evening by plunging Buckingham Palace into complete darkness for one hour.
The monarch switched off all lights at the royal residence between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on March 28, participating in the global Earth Hour initiative organised by the World Wildlife Fund.
This year’s event held particular significance as it marked two decades since the climate awareness campaign began.
The WWF described the action as an opportunity to “stand up for our planet alongside millions around the world”.
King Charles demonstrated his commitment to environmental causes on Saturday evening by plunging Buckingham Palace into complete darkness for one hour.
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Video footage shared on Instagram captured the palace enveloped in darkness during the 60-minute blackout, a cause that has remained deeply important to the King throughout his life.
Earth Hour first began in Sydney, Australia back in 2007 and has since expanded into a worldwide phenomenon.
Iconic structures across the globe now participate annually, with the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben joining Buckingham Palace in switching off their illumination each March.
This year’s observance saw even the famous advertising displays at Piccadilly Circus fall dark for the hour-long period.
The WWF’s message ahead of the event emphasised the collective power of individual actions, stating: “Every light out is a voice raised.”
The initiative aims to draw attention to climate change by encouraging landmarks, businesses and households to demonstrate solidarity through a simple but symbolic gesture of turning off non-essential lighting.
The King’s environmental advocacy stretches back well before his accession to the throne.
While still Prince of Wales in 2020, he established the Sustainable Markets Initiative with the aim of hastening the global shift towards sustainable practices.
The King’s environmental advocacy stretches back well before his accession to the throne.
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His dedication to the cause was evident again earlier this month when he addressed climate pressures in his Commonwealth Day message.
“Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed,” he remarked.
King Charles also participated in Earth Hour last year, extinguishing lights at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle simultaneously, with the official Royal Family Instagram account encouraging followers to “join us for 60 minutes and give an hour for Earth”.
The King’s commitment to environmental causes extends across more than six decades of public life.
At just 21 years old, he delivered a speech highlighting threats to the natural world, including pollution from motor vehicles and aircraft.
His Highgrove Estate was converted into an organic farming operation over four decades ago, and he has more recently been transitioning his personal vehicles to environmentally friendly alternatives.
Lucy Johnson, sustainability expert and founder of Lovebrook & Green, observed: “The King started talking about sustainability, global warming and grass fed produce decades before they’d entered most people’s conversations.
“His love of nature has been undimmed and over the last six decades he has proven himself to be one of our foremost environmentalists.”