at the Fête de l’Huma, the activists are not all convinced by the ecological commitment of Charles III

The one who was nicknamed the “prince of potatoes” will he be up to the climate challenges? “That may not be enough”, comments Christophe, an environmental activist present, Friday, September 9, at the Festival of Humanity, which takes place this year at Plessis-Pâté in Essonne. The festival organized by the newspaper Humanity, a traditional back-to-school meeting for the left marked this year by the Nupes, opened the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England. His son, the new King Charles III, best known for his divorce from Diana, is also committed against racism, poverty and for ecology.

>> Death of Elizabeth II: follow live this day when Charles III is officially proclaimed King of England

A commitment that has lasted for more than 50 years. Charles III built a farm and a model village of sustainable development. In 1986, he created The Prince’s Foundation, which notably develops sustainable fashion. But Christophe fears that rank will catch up with ecological commitment. “How many private planes does the English court have? How do they get around? he wonders. The Windsor family way of life is not compatible even with simple sustainable development. That the great leaders take care of the environment, it can be good, but I am not completely sure that it is a great environmentalist in front of the eternal.”

Behind him, near the Europe Écologie les Verts tent, François is more nuanced:
“On the development of ecological agriculture, when no one was thinking about it, he was quite a good lobbyist in the European institutions.” Charles III had met the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, in 2020, on the sidelines of the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos. “The message that can be sent today to the British can only be beneficial and we see today on these heirs that there is also this will that has passed.”

Criticized and even mocked for his early involvement in the environment, Charles was nicknamed at the time the “prince of potatoes”. Regardless, he continues and delivers his message at climate summits. The monarch even publishes a manifesto at a time when former US President Donald Trump is questioning the COP21 agreements. “It’s good that he is committed to the environment, but concretely will that change anything? It’s good in terms of image, but will the English government follow behind? I don’t am not sure”, asks Lucas, a rebellious militant.

“The English monarchy is an image, it has no function of power.”

Lucas, rebellious activist

at franceinfo

Like Lucas, the rebellious deputy Danielle Simonnet is opposed to the monarchy. For the chosen one, the king is useless, no matter what causes he defends. “It’s the same relationship I can have with the pope”confides the Parisian deputy. “Obviously when you have a pope who is less reactive than another or who is more ecological, it’s more positive, but I don’t expect from a king or a pope the evolution of a politics. I expect it from the people taking charge of their own future.” The new king of England, he has already promised to stand back from his commitments to serve the crown on the same line as his mother.