King Charles engages with life sized gorilla at surreal Royal moment

King Charles had a rather unique encounter at Lancaster House today, coming face-to-face with a life-sized gorilla puppet-and even greeting the wooden creature with a handshake. 

The unexpected moment took place during a reception that brought together business leaders, government officials, NGO's, and indigenous representatives to discuss ways to incorporate nature into business operations. 

As part of the event, the King enjoyed a performance by The Herds, a puppet collective known for using large -scale animal puppets. The troupe, which travels from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, aims to highlight the human relationship with nature and the urgent realities of climate change. 

In a particularly surreal moment, a gorilla puppet-maneuvered by two performers approached the monarch slowly. With guests watching in fascination, Charles smiled and extended his hand, clasping the puppet's wooden fingers. 

The reception was held in the Grand Hall of Lancaster House, a location well-known for its appearances in Netflix's The Crown. 

During the event, King Charles spoke with attendees about their ongoing efforts to protect the environment and champion climate-focused initiatives. 

The monarch's passion for environmental causes dates back more than 50 years. At just 21, he delivered a forward thinking speech in 1970 warning of plastic pollution in the seas. 

Since then, he has continued to be a leading voice in the climate movement, addressing global audiences at major summits including COP21 in Paris, COP26 in Glasgow, and COP28 in Dubai.