King Charles III was left drenched by a torrential downpour during the 45th annual Antigua and Barbuda Independence Parade at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, repeatedly calling out "Where's the umbrella?" as heavy rain battered the royal couple.
Rain hits royal arrival
The King and Queen touched down at the stadium just before 6.30pm local time, but no sooner had they stepped onto the dias than the skies opened up. Camilla, wearing a white Anna Valentine gown, swiftly turned to her staff requesting an umbrella. After several attempts to catch their attention, a personal protection officer rushed to her rescue with her clear umbrella as she made her way to the sheltered seating area.
The King, however, appeared to have been forgotten by his aides, remaining standing in the downpour while gesturing frantically with his arms. Eventually, his equerry sprinted over with a compact black umbrella as Charles made his way to the centre of the cricket ground to inspect the Guard of Honour, all while the rain continued to pour down heavily.
Parade proceeds after brief storm
The Independence Parade serves as the centrepiece of the celebrations, bringing together military and uniformed units for a display of ceremonial drill marching as a symbol of national identity. Charles stood on a small platform as military personnel lined up on the cricket pitch, transformed into a parade ground, before moving off beneath an umbrella to review the assembled troops.
Upon the King's return, he received cheers from the gathered crowds, mirroring the reception he had enjoyed on arrival, and responded with a wave. The heavy rain ceased as abruptly as it had started, lasting roughly five minutes and permitting the celebration programme to proceed in dry conditions. Charles later joked: "I've started growing watercress on my trousers."
Caribbean tour and Commonwealth summit
The King and Camilla subsequently met prominent figures honoured for their contributions to the nation across various sectors, including culture, sport, education and community service. Charles touched down in the Caribbean nation on Friday in advance of his opening address at a Commonwealth summit on Tuesday, taking place in Antigua and anticipated to focus heavily on discussions surrounding slavery.
The King is undertaking a nine-day Caribbean tour, and upon his arrival in the Bahamas on Tuesday for the first stage, Charles recognised the "great suffering of the past" and confirmed the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would address slavery's legacy. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has proposed "structured dialogue" with those impacted by the transatlantic slave trade and conveyed his "sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions", though he has dismissed consideration of financial reparations. The Prime Minister of Antigua expressed deep admiration for the King, who serves as the island nation's head of state, while also voicing his aspirations for the country to transition into a republic.
