The UK is sweltering in another heatwave, but this didn't stop King Charles from tackling numerous engagements on Wednesday, including meeting with the Afghan Refugee Women's Cricket Team and stopping by the Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy to visit charity REORG.
His final engagement of the day saw him hosting a reception in St James's Palace to mark London Climate Week. And with temperatures hitting the mid-30s, it's understandable that the royal was getting hot under the collar.
Thankfully, Charles was able to keep cool, thanks to Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt. Sir Tony was seen following the royal around the room, and holding a hand-held battery-powered fan to make sure the monarch didn't overheat.
Charles wasn't the only one with a fan, as guests were presented with folding fans upon entry. A nurse was also on standby should the soaring temperatures have proved too much for attendees.
© Getty ImagesWhile speaking with Murat Kurum, the president of the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), Charles said: "You asked how I was doing – I'll be doing a great deal better if you can get some progress at the COP31."
Who is Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt?
Sir Tony serves as the Master of the Household, the operational head of the "below stairs" elements of various royal households. Sir Tony has been in the role since 2013, serving under the late Queen Elizabeth II, and made sure that the staff carried out their jobs correctly at Charles' coronation.
Before joining the royal households, Sir Tony served in the Royal Navy, including on ships like the HMS Scylla and HMS Brave. He secured numerous promotions, including to Vice-Admiral, where he also became the Chief of Staff to NATO's Supreme Allied Command Transformation at Norfolk, Virginia.
Sir Tony hit the headlines earlier this year after it was alleged that the King's younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor had assaulted the senior royal aide because he could not accommodate a Pitch@Palace event at Buckingham Palace.
"It was a routine household matter," a senior member of staff told Robert Hardman in his latest book, Queen Elizabeth II: An Intimate Portrait. "The Duke wanted to have a reception, and there wasn't any room. It was as simple as that. Tony said he'd have to wait his turn like anybody else, and the Duke went for him."
© Getty ImagesHardman went on to claim that it was "not just an outburst of expletives and a jab of a finger" and, in fact, a member of staff described it as a "kinetic" blow, which caused astonishment among the royal household.
Royal changes for the heatwave
Due to the ongoing temperatures, royal fans will miss out on something that many tourists enjoy snapping. The traditional Changing of the Guard ceremonies, which typically take place daily outside the royal family's London residences, have been cancelled for the rest of the week.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe official ceremony sees the swapping of the soldiers, dressed in heavy bearskin hats and red tunics, at Buckingham Palace, Wellington Barracks, St James's Palace, and Windsor Castle. The heavy clothing worn by soldiers means it could be sweltering in a heatwave.
Guards at Trooping the Colour have on occasion been seen syn.
