King Charles breaks royal protocol to issue social media, climate change warning

King Charles has won the praise of Anthony Albanese at a meeting of Commonwealth heads after weighing in on major political issues including social media and climate change.

King Charles has delivered a stark warning against the dangers of social media, extremism and disinformation in a signal of approval to Anthony Albanese’s government.

The pair are at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the Samoan capital of Apia following King and Queen Camilla’s whirlwind tour of Australia.

“Together we can expand opportunities across this family of nations to build shared prosperity and truly resilient economies while also meeting growing challenges such as disinformation and extremisms,” King Charles said in his address to Commonwealth nations.

King Charles III attends the opening ceremony of CHOGM at the Tuanaimato Conference Centre in Apia, Samoa. Picture: Getty Images

“Ensuring that the untold potential of technology, including artificial intelligence and social media, works for our societies, not against them.”

The King also called on Commonwealth countries for “action with unequivocal determination” on climate change – underscoring growing criticism of the UK, Australia and Canada for not doing more on fossil fuels.

King Charles III (R) talks to Samoa's Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata'afa during the opening ceremony for CHOGM in Apia, Samoa. Picture: AFP

“I can only offer every encouragement for action with unequivocal determination to arrest rising temperatures by cutting emissions,” he said.

In his first CHOGM as head of the Commonwealth, the King also expressed support for more private sector investment in climate change.

“Over many years it has become clear to me that public finance, while crucial, will never be sufficient on its own to tackle all of this, let alone achieve any of the United Nations development goals, especially in the time frames required.”

CHOGM Secretary General Patricia Scotland and King Charles at CHOGM. Picture: AFP

King Charles III visits The King's Garden, in the grounds of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia, Samoa. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Albanese praised his majesty for teetering on the edge of royal protocol and weighing into topics like social media and climate change that some may deem too political for a monarch.

“The fact that his Majesty King Charles is very conscious of the modern world and prepared to engage in debate about that discourse …(is) something that I think brings his credit.”

Queen Camilla meets a group of young people supported by the Samoa Victim Support Group in Apia, Samoa. Picture: Getty Images

Queen Camilla holds a gift presented to her during a visit to the Samoa Victim Support Group in Samoa. Picture: Getty Images

The King’s comments on climate came just hours after the UK and Australia announced a new climate and energy partnership to fast track renewables like green hydrogen and offshore wind.

Offshore wind projects have courted controversy in Australia with coastal communities blasting the proposals and the Coalition vowing them if elected at the next election.

Anthony Albanese and UK PM Keir Starmer during the opening ceremony of CHOGM. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese and UK PM Keir Starmer in Samoa. Picture Instagram

Green hydrogen has also hit hurdles with Origin Energy abandoning its ambitious plans to develop hydrogen and businessman Twiggy Forrest scaling back his bold plans for the same.

“this partnership will ensure we maximise the economic potential of the net zero transition, and build on our long-standing co-operation on international climate action and shared commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Starmer added: “The UK and Australia share many things in common, including our governments’ determination to improve the lives of working people, drive economic growth and ensure cleaner, more affordable energy.”

Keir Starmer said UK relations with Australia had “always been close”. Picture: Supplied

Mr Albanese also met his Samoan counterpart Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa who he gifted an artwork.

“This is an important couple of days that we have here. Thank you for your leadership on issues like climate change and the oceans, it is really important,” Mr Albanese told the leader who has been vocal on the environment.

The pair shook hands with Mr Albanese thanking her for hosting a “wonderful” cultural reception for the Commonwealth leaders.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with Samoa PM Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. Picture: Supplied

Albanese on Friday also joined other Pacific leaders to mark the first deployment of the new Pacific Police Support Group, part of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), which was backed by Australia and endorsed by Pacific Island Forum leaders in August.

More than 40 police officers from 11 Pacific countries are part of the deployment, which provides security support for Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The deployment includes officers from Pacific partners trained at the PPI’s Pinkenba training hub in Brisbane.

‘WE WILL DISAGREE’: ALBO HITS BACK AT CHINA

The Albanese government has deflected pressure from our Pacific neighbours to urgently cull fossil fuel projects by pointing to China and India’s records on climate change just days after an Australian diplomat lashed Beijing for its human rights violations.

Earlier this week, an Australian diplomat condemned China over human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet — prompting a stunning rebuttal from Beijing citing Australia’s own “systemic racism and hate crimes”.

The spat, which marks the most blistering exchange between the two nations in recent times, has followed the Prime Minister to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at CHOGM in Apia, Samoa. Picture: X

Landing in Apia on Thursday, Mr Albanese defended Australia’s criticism of China saying Australia “will disagree” with China “where we must”.

“We’ve raised issues of human rights with China. We’ve done that in a consistent and clear way,” Mr Albanese said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who had not yet read reports of Beijing’s bruising attack when responding to calls that Australia cut its fossil fuel projects, singled out China and India as the world’s largest emitters.

“Whether it is the PIF (Pacific Island Forum) declarations or the public statements we have made, we all understand the existential threat climate change poses to all of us,” she said.

“There are two emerging economies in the world that account for 40 per cent of global emissions, India and China.

“The whole world has to respond.”

The row comes after Australia secured stronger relations with China with the removal of tariffs on Australian lobster.

Beyond the skirmish, both Mr Albanese and Ms Wong flagged climate change as the main agenda for the forum as Tuvalu called on Australia to take stronger action on the environment.

Tuvalu said Australia’s decision to sign a treaty with the sinking island nation last year made the Albanese government “morally” obligated to take stronger action on climate change.

CHARLES AND CAMILLA STARS OF CHOGM

The event is being held for the first time by a pacific nation with King Charles III leading the charge in promoting more action on climate change on his first visit as monarch.

The King visited a mangrove forest to highlight the impact of climate change on the island countries as his Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated climate as a top priority for the forum while ruling out discussion of historic slavery reparations.

Anthony Albanese sat next to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the welcome reception. Picture: AFP

Australia also announced it was joining forces with the UK to help small Commonwealth nations – many of whom have been vocal about the threat of climate change – to attract investment to their economies.

“Certainly, the focus that I bring to the next couple of days will be engaging on climate change, also engaging on economic development,” Mr Albanese said.

“What we have in our region, in the Blue Pacific, but in other countries as well who are represented here – in Africa, in South Asia – is developing countries that need to provide economic growth and jobs for their people, and that will be one of the focuses that I have in meeting for, in some cases, meeting leaders for the first time.”

Charles and Camilla during an official Royal ‘Ava ceremonial’ welcome at the National University of Samoa in Apia, Samoa. Picture: Getty Images

King Charles and Queen Camilla “brought the British weather” with them to Samoa as Commonwealth leaders gathered in Apia for the heads of government meeting.

Anthony Albanese sat next to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the welcome reception with Albanese opting for island formal attire in a pacific shirt but Mr Starmer sticking to a suit.

The pair spoke at length before Mr Albanese joined New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his wife.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong was also present at the reception.

Reverend Siaso started off the proceedings joking about Samoa’s run with wet weather, blaming the downpour on the Royals.

“For so long Samoa has prayed not only to host CHOGM but to see what comes out of it,” he said “Your deliberations, your talks, your resolutions give hope to those who barely have hope.”

Queen Camilla attends the Samoa Cultural Village. Picture: Getty Images

King Charles III wears a floral lei as he visits the Samoa Cultural Village. Picture: Getty Images

Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa reiterated a concerted push for more action on climate change.

“Let us focus on the future. We aspire to create a future where opportunity is abundant, where education and skill development are accessible to all, and where our natural resources are preserved,” she said.

“The ocean will yield prosperity, but it faces unprecedented threats from climate change, over fishing and pollution.

“We must safeguard this invaluable resource for future generations.”

Originally published as King Charles breaks royal protocol to issue social media, climate change warning