Putting my republican leanings to one side, and my frustration that we continue to tolerate, and pay for, an unelected hereditary head of state, I have to admit that I approve of some of the thinking of the Prince of Wales, the next King Charles, or George, or Henry, or whatever he will be called. If we must have another monarch, then I favour Charles III.

It’s perhaps true that he should keep quiet as it could be thought that he is abusing his position, but there is a need for an outspoken voice that the media will report and at the moment he has little competition. At a recent press conference in the White House, the UK Prime Minister and the US President mentioned everything, from growth to free trade and energy security, without once suggesting that climate change might need addressing.

Charles is often pilloried for his land-owning, and hunting and shooting background, one that has done considerable harm to the standing of many of his class. However, it’s to his credit that he has been able to see beyond the abuse of the landscape and its wildlife and acknowledge the complexity and value of the natural world.

Putting homeopathy well to one side, with its lack of scientific rigour, he does seem to understand the natural world and the balance of the dynamic, physical and chemical systems that produce the planet that we take for granted.

He is consistent, both at the domestic level and on the wider national and global stage. His home, Highgrove House, displays many simple sustainable features, such as rainwater flushing, solar panels and reed beds to purify all the waste water and sewage from the property. The farms on the estate are run organically, with wildflower meadows and hedgerows, and without chemical fertiliser or pesticides.

Recently he had a real go at confirmed sceptics of climate change, and was very critical of the international association of corporate lobbyists. He is concerned about the catastrophic consequences of inaction, and says saving the planet is a grandfather’s duty.

He will have a real window of opportunity when he chairs the forthcoming Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka. With a little luck, he will let the Canadians know what he thinks of their oil and tar sand excesses, and the Australians could be asked to reflect on their rampant coals exports.

He maintains that business as usual will only increase climate problems and destroy nature’s capital – well said, even if you are royalty.