Bet you didn't see this one coming.

On Tuesday, the International Insurance Society (IIS) announcedthat none other than His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales,will present the keynote tomorrow at the United NationsFinancial & Private Sector Disaster Resilience Global Summit inLondon, cohosted by IIS and Willis.

This is quite a get for the insurance industry. (Though myeditor, Bill Coffin, reminds us that royal interest in these topicsshould not be too surprising, given that the modern insuranceindustry “was invented in a London coffeehouse.”)

“We are deeply honored that His Royal Highness, The Prince ofWales, a man who has a deep concern about the impact of naturaldisasters on the loss of lives and property, and a keenunderstanding of the positive role the insurance industry plays inmitigating these losses, will address our delegation ofdistinguished insurance leaders from around the world, representingall sectors of the industry,” gushed Michael J. Morrissey,IIS President and CEO, in a statement annoucing the keynote.

Charles will be speaking on the UN's new Hyogo Framework forAction program and the agency's efforts to improve global disasterresilience, including the private sector's role in this effort. TheIIS calls the insurance industry a “crucial stakeholder in thisinitiative, which dovetails with the very purpose of the industry —protecting and ensuring economic and societal security.”

What the Prince of Wales thinks about all this … well, we'rejust going to have to wait until tomorrow to find out.