The King is set to meet with energy industry leaders this week to enhance his knowledge on clean energy, such as wind farms and hydrogen, ahead of his upcoming state visit to France and Germany, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

Among the senior figures he will hear from is Bernard Looney, Chief Executive of bp, sources have reported.

The meeting has been described as an opportunity for the King to receive background briefings and improve his understanding before the visit.

The trip, which commences on 26th March, comes after reports that the monarch, who has been a champion of environmental causes for many years, cancelled plans to attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt on advice from then-Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment by ELN – it declined to comment further.