The King has reunited with the Queen in Antigua, where the royal couple kick-started their first full day of engagements by attending a church service. Arriving at St John’s Pentecostal House of Restoration for an Anglican Church service, they were welcomed by a steel band and greeted by the governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams, and his wife, Lady Sandra Williams.
Camilla, wearing a turquoise chiffon dress by Anna Valentine, with turquoise and diamond earrings from her private collection and a multi-coloured Antigua beaded bracelet made by a local vendor, made her first appearance on the King’s nine-day Caribbean tour. She flew out to Antigua on Thursday and will undertake both joint and solo engagements during the remaining two days of the tour.
The church service, part of the broader Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 programme, centred on themes of unity and partnership. Inside, a trumpet fanfare sounded before the King and Queen ended the procession and the service got under way.
It featured readings from Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the Governor-General and an Act of Affirmation by the Commonwealth secretary-general, Shirley Botchway, concluding with the Lord’s My Shepherd. After the hour-long service, the King, wearing a colourful tie gifted to him by Barry Humphries’ widow and a pocket square made of the traditional Antiguan and Barbuda Independence Day madras, chatted amiably with the governor-general as they left the church.
And as the couple made their way to their waiting vehicle, the steel band started to play a rousing rendition of the William Tell Overture.
Later on Sunday, the King and Queen will attend Antigua and Barbuda’s 45th annual independence parade and meet cricketing legends. The event is the centrepiece of celebrations and brought together military and uniformed units for a display of ceremonial drill and marching, expressing national pride.
The royal couple will view the parade’s closing ceremonial sequence before greeting students and four legendary knights of West Indies cricket – Sir Viv Richards, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Curtly Ambrose. The main reason for the King and Queen’s visit to Antigua is for CHOGM, where Charles will speak about the issue of slavery with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” in a speech to open the meeting but is not expected to offer an apology.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has increased interest after Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered Commonwealth nations the opportunity to discuss a slavery apology from Britain. Charles will end his day by tossing a coin to decide which team will bat or bowl first in the Commonwealth Cricket Celebration game.
The Heads of Government T5 exhibition match will see Caribbean leaders, captained by Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of Guyana, compete against heads of government from the wider Commonwealth, led by William Ruto, Kenya’s president.
