Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis plans to raise the subject of the return of the Parthenon marbles with his British counterpart Liz Truss when he visits London.

“At a time when Truss will be looking to build her credibility and when the UK is sort of cornered in terms of its overall image after the [Queen’s] funeral it will be a fantastic gesture, and that’s what I’ll tell her,” Mitsotakis told the The Sunday Times.

“I think the mood is changing in the UK,” Mitsotakis added, referring to reports that, after decades of defensiveness, the British Museum seems to be more open to the return of the Marbles, a subject that has been a issue of conflict between Britain and Greece ever since Lord Elgin removed them from the Parthenon in 1801, claiming to have permission from occupying Ottoman authorities to send workmen up ladders to saw off marble figures of warriors, centaurs and gods.

Mitsotakis, who said he has a “good personal relationship” with King Charles of England is positive that the new monarch will be supportive of a deal between the British Museum and Greece that will see the Marbles return to their home, based on previous conversations had and on King Charles’ Greek heritage.

“The King has a Greek heritage which he values and cherishes very much,” Mitsotakis noted reiterating one of the King’s comments from a previous visit to Mount Athos, “Greece has long held the most special place in my heart, after all, Greece is the land of my grandfather and of my father’s birth”.

While Mitsotakis is hopeful and prepared, he understands that there will be much opposition from parties fearing that such a deal between the two countries might empty the British Museum of its treasures, strengthening demands from other countries with claims on exhibits such as the Rosetta Stone, the Easter Island statue and ancient Egyptian artefacts.

It is worth mentioning that a YouGov poll last November indicated that 59 per cent of the British respondents thought the marbles belonged in Greece and only 18 per cent wanted them to stay in Britain (the rest had no opinion).

The Acropolis Museum at the foot of the Parthenon was purpose-built to display the marbles and already houses some of the sculptures that were assembled from fragments left behind by Elgin, a project that Mitsotakis has proclaimed he is determined to see through.