In the midst of a heated dispute between London and Athens over the famous Parthenon frieze, British King Charles III. caused controversy with his choice of tie. The monarch appeared at the UN climate conference in Dubai yesterday wearing a light blue tie with patterns reminiscent of the Greek flag. This caused heated discussions on the Internet.
Portal/Amr Alfiky
Among other things, there was speculation, especially from the Greek side, that Charles wanted to use his choice of tie to make a statement against British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was also in Dubai. The Prime Minister canceled a planned meeting in London this week with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at short notice. He had already announced that he wanted to campaign for the return of the Parthenon frieze in his conversation with Sunak.
Greece has been trying for decades to return 56 frieze pieces that are in the British Museum in London. Components of the 75 meter long Parthenon frieze were removed from the exterior of the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis of Athens in the early 19th century on behalf of the then British ambassador Lord Elgin and brought to Britain in agreement with the then Ottoman. Empire.
Athens sees the marble slabs as stolen. According to London, they were acquired legally.