Prince Charles joins Bill Gates, Justin Trudeau and Zac Goldsmith for drinks ...

Prince Charles joined US businessman Bill Gates and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a reception for world leaders on day three of the COP26 summit tonight. 

The Prince of Wales, 72, appeared in high spirits as he spoke with the congregation of delegates and leaders at an evening gathering inside Glasgow's Scottish Event Campus (SEC).

Also joining the future king for the reception was former US Vice President Al Gore, Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

The evening reception comes after the royal used his COP26 address to demand a 'military-style campaign' to mobilise trillions of dollars of private sector cash to 'save our precious planet'.

The Duke of Cornwall said the pandemic had taught the world 'timelines can be sped up dramatically' when everyone 'agrees on the urgency and the direction'.

He said top CEOs and businesses he had spoken to confirmed they were ready to do their part to protect the globe from climate change.

During the evening reception tonight leaders were listened to a speech by Environment minister Zac Goldsmith who this week described how saving the world's forests would be one of the cornerstone achievements of the Cop26 climate summit. 

The scenes come after Prince Charles, who joined Prince William and Kate Middleton for a lavish royal reception at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum last night, issued a rallying call to nations in the fight against climate change.

In his speech on Monday the royal said: 'So ladies and gentlemen, my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required.

'We know this will take trillions, not billions of dollars. We also know that countries, many which are burdened by heavy levels of debt, simply cannot afford to go green.

'Here we need a vast, military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector.

'With trillions at its disposal, far beyond global GDP and with the greatest respects beyond even the government's of the world's leaders it offers the only real prospect of achieving a fundamental economic transition.

'So how do we do it? First how do we get the private sector all pulling in the same direction?

'After nearly two years now of consultation, CEOs have told me we need to bring together global industries to map out in very practical terms what it will take to make the transition.

'We know from the pandemic the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction.

'So each sector needs a clear strategy of getting innovations to mark it. Second, who pays and how?

'We need to align private investment behind these industry strategies to help finance the transition effort, which means building the confidence of investors so the financial risk is reduced.

'Investment is needed to transfer from coal to clean energy. If we can develop a pipeline of more sustainable and bankable projects at a sufficient scale it will attract sufficient investment.

'Third which switches do we flick to enable these objectives? More than 300 of the world's leading CEOs and and investors have told me that along side the promises countries have made... they need clear market signals, agreed globally so they have the confidence to invest without the goalposts suddenly moving.

'This is the framework I've offered on a Terracarter roadmap created by my stable markets initiative with nearly 100 specific actions for acceleration.

'Together we're working to drive trillions of dollars into support transition across ten of the most emitting and polluting industries.

'They include energy, agriculture, transportation, health systems and fashion. The reality of today's global supply chains means industry transition will effect every country and every producer in the world.

'There is absolutely not doubt in my mind that the private sector is ready to play its part and to work with governments to find a way forward.'

The Prince also said the world has been put on 'war footing' due to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity.

He continued: 'The pandemic has shown us just how devastating a global cross border threat can be.

'Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different. in fact they pose an even greater existential threat.'

He went on: 'To the extent we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.

'Having the opportunity of consulting many of you myself over these past few months I know you all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act decisively because time has literally run out.'

Earlier today, Microsoft founder Bill Gates was seen mingling with world leaders including the Prime Minister of India at a 'clean technology' event at the Cop26 climate summit. 

The US businessman-turned-philanthropist met with Narendra Modi, Israeli premier Naftali Bennett, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today and yesterday, during the UN-run conference in Glasgow.

He also met President Joe Biden on the sidelines, and could be seen grinning as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that the pair had agreed to spend £400million in a bid to solve the 'problems of low-carbon aviation' during the Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment event this afternoon.   

It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he and the Microsoft founder had agreed to spend £400million to try and solve problems of low carbon aviation.

He said: 'Bill Gates and I agreed jointly to spend £400 million trying to solve problems of low carbon aviation, zero guilt free aviation and we've got to fix it.