HELLO! MARKS EARTH DAY WITH A ROYAL SALUTE THE KING HOW THE MONARCH HAS LED BY EXAMPLE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

When it comes to green W the royal family have long been ahead of their time. For decades the King, like his father Prince Philip before him, has been a champion of sustainability, speaking up to motivate others and leading by example.

From running his own organic farms and recycling garden waste to encouraging businesses to be more sustainable, His Majesty has been unwavering in his passion for the planet.

At the heart of his commitment is a desire to protect the world for future generations, including his own beloved grandchildren.

"King Charles ascended the throne at a time when the planet faces its greatest peril. Luckily for us, he is a man prepared," Lucy Johnson, founder of Green Salon, the UK's first sustainable lifestyle consultancy, tells HELLO!.

"The King started talking about sustainability, global warming and grass-fed produce decades before they'd entered most people's conversations. His love of nature has been undimmed and over the last six decades he has proven himself to be one of our foremost environmentalists.

"There's nobody that has the same level of reach as the royal family, so it's hugely beneficial for the monarch to be this passionate about the climate."

A PRINCELY INTEREST

His Majesty's interest in environmental issues was sparked when he was just nine years old, having appeared with Sir David Attenborough in the BBC's studios in 1958 for an episode of the documentary series Zoo Quest.

The meeting proved to be a catalyst for the monarch's deep appreciation of the importance of the natural world, prefacing decades of environmental campaigning.

"When [Charles] became prominent and an adult, he took a strong line at a time when nature conservation was regarded as being slightly specialist," Sir David told the BBC.

"But in fact, he was absolutely right and the world has come to see the world as he saw it."