Prince Charles worries humanity has left climate change action too late

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Ms Mottley was given a position of prominence at the opening ceremony of COP26, the climate change summit taking place in Glasgow. The Barbadian leader spoke passionately about the risks Caribbean countries such as hers are facing with the global rise of temperatures.

Addressing world leaders, she urged them to “try harder” when making decisions to stave off climate change.

She said: “1.5C is what we need to stay alive – two degrees is a death sentence for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, for the people of the Maldives, for the people of Dominica and Fiji, for the people of Kenya and Mozambique – and yes, for the people of Samoa and Barbados.

“We do not want that dreaded death sentence and we’ve come here today to say ‘try harder, try harder’.

“Because our people, the climate army, the world, the planet, needs our action now – not next year, not in the next decade.”

The important position given to Barbados – as one of the countries most at risk of deadly consequences with the rising levels of the oceans – at the opening ceremony may have left Queen proud but heartbroken, knowing soon this country will not be counted among her 15 overseas realms.

Barbadians are preparing to ditch Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state.

On November 30, a day also marking Barbados’ 55th independence anniversary, the Caribbean country will officially become a republic – but remain within the Commonwealth.

The Governor-General of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, announced last September the nation’s intention to cut all ties with the Crown in the UK and appoint a Barbadian head of state.  

At the time Buckingham Palace said this decision was “a matter for the Government and people of Barbados”.

Over the past 13 months, the Caribbean nation has moved quickly to take the necessary steps to achieve its republican dream.

In September, the Parliament of the country unanimously approved a constitutional reform establishing, among other issues, Barbadians should swear allegiance to their country and the continuity of its institutions rather than to the Queen.

Last month, the country also elected its future president – Dame Sandra, who from November 30 will stop representing the Queen in the Caribbean country and will become the first Barbadian head of state. 

Ms Mottley spoke shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the summit, Prince Charles and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

The Prince of Wales, who has dedicated the past five decades to raising awareness on the risks of climate change, outlined the framework he created earlier this year with his Terra Carta roadmap as a way to fight climate change and the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

He concluded his speech with a powerful plea to world leaders, saying: “Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, many of your countries I know are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and wildfires, as we’ve just seen on that terrifying film.

“Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention.

“So, I can only urge you, as the world’s decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people.”

Sir David, who actively supports Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, issued a powerful message which left attendees at the summit and social media users equally impressed. Warning it is now time to act, Sir David said: “Is this how our story is due to end?

“Perhaps the fact the people most affected by climate change are no longer some imagined future generation, but young people alive today, perhaps that will give us the impetus we need to rewrite our story, to turn this tragedy into a triumph.

“We now understand this problem, we know how to stop the number rising and put them in reverse.”

The Queen will not attend COP26 in person after following her doctors’ advice to rest.

The monarch was due to travel to Glasgow to attend this evening’s reception, but last Tuesday Buckingham Palace announced she had “regretfully decided” not to endure the journey to Scotland.

On Friday, the palace issued a new statement saying the sovereign will continue to only carry out light duties and a few virtual audiences for at least the next two weeks.

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