Nassau: King Charles has acknowledged past suffering and injustices as he began a nine-day Caribbean tour in the Bahamas, focusing on Britain’s colonial legacy, the slave trade, climate change and the Commonwealth’s future.
King Charles received a ceremonial welcome at the airport before meeting Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, Governor-General of the Bahamas, and Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas. The King also inspected a guard of honour presented by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The location holds personal significance for Charles, who attended the Bahama’s independence celebrations there in 1973 as Prince of Wales.
Before the visit, Buckingham Palace stated that the King would not shy away from discussions about Britain’s colonial legacy or the impact of the transatlantic slave trade. However, Charles will not apologise for Britain’s role in slavery or offer reparations, in line with the UK government’s position.
🇧🇸 ‘I reach, Amen!’ [I’ve arrived, thank God!]
His Majesty addressed the crowd with a few words of Bahamian dialect as his visit to The Bahamas began in spectacular fashion at a Youth Rally in Nassau, celebrating the talent, creativity and ambition of the next generation.
More than 60% of Commonwealth citizens are aged under 30, making young people central to the future of the Commonwealth.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 28, 2026
Climate change was another major theme of the King’s opening engagement. The King highlighted the challenges facing low-lying Caribbean islands and stressed the need to protect the environment. The monarch also urged young people to take responsibility for caring for the planet, linking environmental protection with future prosperity and security.
The tour has been organised in consultation with the governments of the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda. The programme aims to recognise the region’s past while highlighting opportunities for future generations. The King is scheduled to travel to Guyana later this week, where engagements will focus on the environment and biodiversity.
The final stage will take the King to Antigua and Barbuda, where Queen Camilla will join him for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The monarch is expected to deliver a keynote speech as leader of the Commonwealth. The biennial summit brings together leaders from 56 Commonwealth countries to discuss shared challenges and strengthen cooperation.
The Caribbean tour marks the King’s first visit to the region as monarch. Historical reflection, environmental protection and youth engagement are central themes of the nine-day programme, which seeks to acknowledge the legacy of slavery while looking towards the ambitions of future generations and the Commonwealth’s shared priorities.
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