Boris Johnson's car blocked by climate protesters during journey to meet Queen to become prime minister

Boris Johnson’s motorcade was briefly blocked by climate protesters from reaching Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

Greenpeace demonstrators held hands to block the path of the Tory leader as he travelled along The Mall shortly before he was appointed as Theresa May's successor.

Police officers could be seen moving the protesters away to allow Mr Johnson’s convoy to pass. Another group brandished a poster as the cars passed.

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Greenpeace’s UK branch tweeted that its supporters had “tried to hand the incoming PM a crucial letter – it contains the answers to tackling the Climate Emergency. ‘But will he *act*?’’”

Activists wore sashes reading “Climate Emergency” while another group further along The Mall approached Mr Johnson’s car holding a banner bearing the same message.

Shape Created with Sketch. Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: in pictures Show all 12 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: in pictures 1/12 In the protest that started a movement, Greta skips school to sit outside of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm in order to raise awareness of climate change on 28 August 2018 Getty 2/12 Greta speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January AFP/Getty 3/12 Greta stages a protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January Reuters 4/12 Greta speaks at the House of Commons in London on 23 April PA 5/12 Greta addresses to the occupation at Marble Arch in London on 21 April AFP/Getty 6/12 Greta meets the pope on a visit to Rome Reuters 7/12 Greta speaks at the senate in Rome on 18 April Reuters 8/12 Greta addresses a debate of the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 April AFP/Getty 9/12 Greta receives the Special Climate Protection Award at the German Film and Television awards in Berlin on 30 March AFP/Getty 10/12 Greta attends a children's climate protest in Berlin on 29 March AFP/Getty 11/12 Greta addresses a children's climate protest on 1 March in Hamburg Getty 12/12 Greta attends a meeting for the Civil Society For rEUnaissance at the EU Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 February AFP/Getty 1/12 In the protest that started a movement, Greta skips school to sit outside of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm in order to raise awareness of climate change on 28 August 2018 Getty 2/12 Greta speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January AFP/Getty 3/12 Greta stages a protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January Reuters 4/12 Greta speaks at the House of Commons in London on 23 April PA 5/12 Greta addresses to the occupation at Marble Arch in London on 21 April AFP/Getty 6/12 Greta meets the pope on a visit to Rome Reuters 7/12 Greta speaks at the senate in Rome on 18 April Reuters 8/12 Greta addresses a debate of the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 April AFP/Getty 9/12 Greta receives the Special Climate Protection Award at the German Film and Television awards in Berlin on 30 March AFP/Getty 10/12 Greta attends a children's climate protest in Berlin on 29 March AFP/Getty 11/12 Greta addresses a children's climate protest on 1 March in Hamburg Getty 12/12 Greta attends a meeting for the Civil Society For rEUnaissance at the EU Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 February AFP/Getty

The police motorbikes and car flanking the incoming prime minister’s Jaguar appeared to be caught off guard by the protest, with one officer racing back towards Mr Johnson to prevent the protesters reaching his vehicle.

Greenpeace UK’s executive director, John Sauven, was among the protesters and attempted to hand Mr Johnson a 134-point “Climate Emergency” manifesto “detailing the wide-ranging policies the new administration must implement to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown”.

He said: “Climate change needs to be front and centre of this new administration from day one. The responsibility on a prime minister to act on the climate emergency has never been greater.

“If we want any chance of leaving a habitable world to our children we need to see action start immediately. We can’t blunder and bluster our way out of this emergency.

“In reality the government is simply failing to tackle the climate crisis. It’s not enough to point to world-leading climate targets when too often government policy ignores or worsens the situation by supporting fracking and banning onshore wind.

“Boris Johnson must get to grips with the climate emergency or be remembered as the prime minister who jeopardised our children’s future.”