The Queen's Climate Speech Is Raising Eyebrows, But Not For The Reason You'd Think

The British royal family has made helping the environment a priority. With that in mind, Prince Charles and Prince William have traveled to Glasgow for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), a two-week summit where leaders from around the globe will meet to discuss how to address climate change (per Council for Foreign Relations). William is traveling with his wife, Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles is slated to address world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, asking them to "translate fine words into still finer action" (per the Daily Mail).

While Queen Elizabeth was also invited to attend the summit, she had to pull out at the last minute due to health concerns. "Following advice to rest, The Queen has been undertaking light duties at Windsor Castle," Buckingham Palace said in a statement (per Reuters). "Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the Evening Reception of COP26 on Monday, 1st November."

The queen, however, did send recording remarks to the summit, explaining, according to the NZ Herald, that "in the coming days, the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend," adding that "working side-by-side, we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and to triumph over the greatest of adversities."

But it's what she didn't say that has people talking.

During her recorded remarks at the COP26 summit, Queen Elizabeth also mentioned how proud she is of Prince Charles and Prince William for their endeavors in helping the environment, and also praised her late husband, Prince Phillip. "This is a duty I am especially happy to discharge, as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh," she said (per Town & Country). "It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them."

Viewers couldn't help but notice that the queen made no mention of Charles's other son, Prince Harry, who is still dealing with the fallout from his decision to leave his royal duties in 2020. Yet Harry continues to support a variety of environmental causes and has also cited his grandfather as inspiration. During Earth Day 2021, he encouraged people to support national parks and protected areas. "On this Earth Day, I reflect on generations of conservation champions, including my late grandfather, and feel proud and energized to continue doing my part in this legacy," he said (per USA Today).