PRINCE William and the king have made a rare joint appearance to host “Countdown to COP30” at the Natural History Museum.

Both The Prince of Wales, 43, and King Charles, 76, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a planet-saving gala in London tonight.

The event takes place ahead of COP30 summIt held in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil next month.

The King and Prince of Wales were all smiles as they arrived at the London museum this evening.

Charles and his son William were seen chatting as they walked up the steps to the entrance before meeting a host of politicians including former prime minister Theresa May inside.

The royal pair viewed a photography project by The Woodland Trust and met business leaders plus the Brazilian ambassador to UK Antonio de Aguilar Patriota and Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha.

They also visited a show of eco-friendly ideas and films such as William’s ‘Guardians’ series.

Prince William will be jetting off to the Amazon rainforest – to attend the global eco-summit, on behalf of the King later this year.

The COP30 World Leaders Summit will be held in Belem, Brazil, on November 10.

Political leaders from across the world, climate campaigners and big business will gather in four weeks’ time for the United Nations talks which aim to secure more ambitious action – and finance – to tackle rising global temperatures.

It falls in the same week William is in Brazil for the fifth instalment of his £50 million Earthshot Prize.

Every year this decade the Prince of Wales awards £1 million to each of five winners working to save the planet.

The Prince’s prize has so far been held in the UK, the USA, Singapore and Cape Town.

William has previously spoken about bringing the prize to every corner of the planet, including South America.

This year the eco event is being hosted in Rio de Janeiro and 24 hours after the prize-giving the prince will fly 1,500 miles north to the Amazon rainforest.

He will join leaders from around the globe to attend COP 30.

William last appeared at a COP when he joined other royals at the event in Glasgow in November 2021.

The King last attended a COP when it was in Dubai two years ago.

Wills has previously said he hopes his presence at the event will promote “urgent optimism” for tackling environment issues.

His father is also a strong advocate for environmental issues and has attended COP events as the Prince of Wales and as the reigning monarch.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “For more than five decades, the king has also used his unique platform to champion sustainability, emphasising the fundamental connection between humanity and nature.”

When Charles was Prince of Wales he delivered the opening speech at COP 21 in Paris.

During his opening remarks he called for a “vast military-style campaign” to fight climate change.

The climate conference this year will see William rub shoulders with activists, NGOs, policymakers and government representatives.

He is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and speak at the climate event.

When it was announced William would be attending the event a royal source said: “His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism.

“Next year, the climate COP will take place in Brazil, and it’s set to be hugely consequential.

“The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.”