King wears Greek tie following Elgin Marbles row between Athens and Downing Street

At the COP28 climate summit, the King showed up wearing a tie that had the design of the Greek flag on it. This happened following a dispute in diplomacy regarding the Elgin Marbles.

Today in Dubai, the monarch wore a blue and white accessory, along with a handkerchief in the same colors that represent the nation of Greece. The monarch's father, Prince Philip, was also born into royalty in Greece.

He made a fashion statement in response to a dispute between Rishi Sunak and Athens. The prime minister cancelled his meeting with Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis due to the ancient marbles, which are also referred to as the Parthenon sculptures.

Downing Street stated that the negotiations were arranged only under the agreement that the Greeks would not publicly campaign for the repatriation of the valuable historical objects that are currently exhibited and owned by the British Museum, while Mr. Mitsotakis was present in the United Kingdom.

However, Greece rejected the claim that they had made a promise not to bring up the issue during their journey.

It appeared that Mr Sunak was unconcerned about the King's attire, which may have been a way to ease any diplomatic conflicts.

On X, which was previously called Twitter, he shared a photo of himself alongside the monarch and gave him compliments for being a leader in the efforts to safeguard our planet for over six decades.

What was the reason behind the King's choice of wearing a tie with a Greek design?

The ruler was aware that the entire globe would be observing this particular address.

British representatives were cognizant too.

Many people raised their eyebrows when the King wore a tie with the Greek flag on it, especially since there had been an argument over the Parthenon marbles just a few days earlier.

However, did the clothing choice have any meaningful message behind it?

In Greece, people have observed a gesture that could indicate showing support. However, it is unclear whether the support was merely personal or had a political motive.

Naturally, the King has a significant familial connection with Greece. His dad, Prince Philip, was brought up in the royal family of Greece (and Denmark).

Perhaps it's simply his preferred necktie. The King despises wastefulness and frequently chooses to reutilize articles of clothing that he's owned for some time.

Perhaps diplomats from Whitehall recognized an opening to utilize the persuasive strength of the King to send a message to Athens. It's uncertain. However, Greek press is interpreting the connection in a positive light.

Royal attire has frequently made a significant statement in the past.

During the commencement of the Eurovision Song Contest, when Kate played the piano, she was clad in the color Ukrainian blue.

In 2022, the Queen wore a well-known blue and yellow ensemble that represents Ukraine while inaugurating an underground line.

The palace has not provided any comment regarding the King's selection of necktie.

However, contemplating queries about neckwear is undeniably simpler than pondering on the latest news stories about the monarch.

Mr. Sunak has denied canceling his meeting with the Greek prime minister due to a "hissy fit," as alleged by George Osborne, the former chancellor who is now the chairman of the British Museum.

According to Mr. Osborne, the argument would not hinder the ongoing discussions about an agreement to lend the Elgin Marbles to Greece for display.

When questioned about the opinion of the previous top-ranking Conservative member, Mr. Sunak responded to the press saying, "No, no." He further explained that he had already addressed the topic in Parliament on another day and currently, his primary concern was fulfilling the needs and wants of the public.

The King is aiming to divert attention from accusations of racism.

The King intends to divert attention from the domestic controversy by appearing at COP28, possibly by wearing a particular tie.

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It's possible that the King was honoring his Greek roots, as the Duke of Edinburgh was born on the island of Corfu in 1921.

When Philip was only 18 months old, his family was forced to leave Greece following a coup by the military, which saw his uncle, King Constantine I, being removed from power.

During a trip to Athens in 2021, which happened just a few weeks before the passing of the duke, the current King expressed his deep affection for his dad's birthplace, emphasizing that Greece had always held a very important and emotional significance to him.

Sky News has received information indicating that the necktie in question is among the King's present assortment. He had also sported the tie for the duration of the official visit of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol.

The arrival occurred over a week prior to the dispute concerning the Elgin Marbles kicking off.