In a historic heat wave, King Charles had a man follow him around with a fan

My algorithm has been evil all week. All I see are fights between Americans and Europeans over air conditioning. The great AC debate has raged because large parts of Europe are experiencing another historic heat wave. France just experienced their hottest day ever. Spain and Italy merge. Tens of thousands of people will likely die from heatstroke, as they do every year in Europe. In England it reaches 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. In the UK and Europe, the lack of AC in private and public spaces has become a massive public health problem. And yet Europeans still have enough (sweating) energy to yell at air-conditioned Americans when we suggest “buy a window mounted AC unit” or “investment in AC in all public spaces.”

Well, the UK is still trying to come up with other, non-AC solutions to their now annual heatwaves. Keeping a stiff upper lip and blaming Meghan Markle isn’t cutting it. England and Wales closing their schools this week. And now King Charles has canceled the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. The last thing tourists need to see is a bunch of grown men in giant bearskin hats passed out in 100 degree heat in front of the palace.

It’s so hot in Britain that the traditional changing of the guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been suspended for the rest of the week.

The decision is a rare move by The Household Division, which oversees the British Army’s ceremonial duties, and comes during one of the busiest seasons for British tourism – with many onlookers flocking to royal residences to witness the historic military handover.

The United Kingdom is under an extremely high temperature warning, with the National Weather Service warning that temperatures could reach higher than 39 °C (102.2 °F). A red warning is rare, and the warning from the National Weather Service mentions a risk to life even for healthy people.

“Due to the expected excessive temperatures expected this week across the country, daily ceremonial operations will be slightly altered to accommodate the warm weather,” the Household Division said in a statement, adding that there would be no ceremonial changing of the guard at Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace on Wednesday or Thursday.

The UK’s maximum temperature record for June is expected to be broken this week, according to the Met Office, and authorities say the soaring temperatures could significantly affect health and public transport networks.

(From USA Today)

So maybe it wasn’t the king who called it off, but I hope he at least approved of this. There is really no reason for this to continue. I know it’s a tourist thing, but for the love of God. Charles doesn’t even live at BP! He’s barely there!

Speaking of which, the photos I’m including in this post are from Wednesday – Charles hosted a London Climate Action Week reception in St. James’s Palace. A military man, “Retired Vice-Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, the Master of the House,” was tasked with hovering behind Charles while holding a small electric fan and pointing it at the King alone. That’s how BEYONCE does it, by the way. She has a fan guy too, only her fan is much bigger. It’s crazy that Charles and all these men showed up in suits and ties. In heatwaves, it should be “business shorts and polos.” According to MailCharles’ staff set up other fans around the room and a nurse was on standby in case someone passed out in SJP, which doesn’t even have an air-conditioned room.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.