King Charles III experienced an unexpected soaking during Antigua and Barbuda's 45th anniversary of independence celebrations when a torrential downpour began shortly after his arrival.
His Majesty was attending the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium when the skies opened. Caught without an umbrella, the King appeared frustrated, throwing up his arms and calling for assistance. Queen Camilla was quickly provided with a clear dome umbrella and moved to sheltered seating. Eventually, an umbrella was brought to the King, but by then his suit was significantly wet.
Charles, however, took the moment in stride, later quipping, "I've started growing watercress on my trousers." He stoically continued with the engagement, inspecting service personnel under the umbrella and occasionally wiping his face with a handkerchief. The downpour lasted only about five minutes, allowing the rest of the ceremony to proceed in dry weather.
Following the parade, the King and Queen met with students and several West Indian cricket legends, including Sir Viv Richards, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Andy Roberts, and Sir Curtly Ambrose. Sir Viv Richards, who had recently been appointed a Sustainable Markets Initiative Ambassador—a movement founded by the King—expressed his excitement about the royal visit, calling it a "win-win situation" for the nation.
The visit also coincided with discussions surrounding reparations for slavery. Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, reiterated his personal view that the nation should become a republic and that the UK should pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. While acknowledging constitutional procedures, Browne stated his desire for Antigua and Barbuda to eventually remove the British monarch as head of state. He suggested that any compensation could be funded through Britain's overseas development budget, warning that failure to address historical injustices could lead to future atrocities.
Despite the rain and the political undertones, the royal couple was cheered by crowds, and the King acknowledged their warmth with a wave. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was also taking place, with discussions expected to include topics such as apologies and reparations for slavery.