King Charles hosted a CEO summit at Hampton Court Palace this week, bringing together 200 global business leaders to discuss climate action under the Sustainable Markets Initiative. The event marked a shift from the royal's previous outspoken environmental advocacy, with Charles now taking a quieter approach to eco-activism since ascending to the throne.

The summit featured Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, who has remained with SMI while other major banks exited green initiatives like the Net Zero Banking Alliance. Asset manager State Street also attended despite withdrawing from groups like Climate Action 100+. Both companies cited political pressures and legal challenges from Republican officials as reasons for leaving other sustainability coalitions.

Speakers emphasized a pragmatic pivot from climate rhetoric to economic opportunity, with former climate envoy John Kerry noting that many CEOs are maintaining commitments while avoiding public discussion. The event highlighted China's growing dominance in clean energy investment, now exceeding $2 trillion annually according to BloombergNEF, as companies increasingly focus on material risks and market opportunities rather than abstract climate goals.