King and Queen fly out of Antigua after Caribbean tour dominated by slavery reparations row

The King and Queen jetted out of Antigua this morning after a successful trip to the Caribbean, despite the growing row over reparations and a certain incident with an umbrella.The couple bid a fond farewell to the Governor-General, Sir Rodney Williams and his wife, Lady Williams, as well as Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier General Telbert Benjamin, and the Commissioner of Police of the Royal Police Force, Everton Jeffers at the island's airport.The Royal Police Force Band played God Save The King, followed by the National Anthem of Antigua and Barbuda. The Grand Commander then called for a salute, after which the Royal Standard and Antigua and Barbuda flags were lowered.The King inspected the Guard of Honour, before Their Majesties departed VC Bird International Airport on the Government's RAF Voyager plane.Charles, 77, has been on the road for eight days, undertaking a royal visit to the Bahamas and a state visit to Guyana, before being joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, 79, in Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm). King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave as they depart Antigua and Barbuda this morning King Charles III and Queen Camilla before boarding a plane as they depart Antigua and Barbuda King Charles III and Queen Camilla are bid farewell as they leave Antigua and Barbuda today The King and Queen have attended the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting While royal aides and diplomats say the trip has been hugely successful in terms of its original objectives, to shore up trade deals in the region and initiatives in areas such as the environment, the tour has been dominated by the increasingly toxic debate over an apology by the British government for the country's role in the historic transatlantic slave trade and the payment of billions in compensation.The issue was always bubbling in the run up to Chogm, with a growing chorus of calls in the Caribbean for Britain to step up.But Prime Minister Andy Burnham lit an unexpected touchpaper under the debate on the eve of the conference by saying he was willing to start a constructive dialogue on the issue of an apology, going further than any British political leader has ever done.Although he ruled out the prospect of an accompanying financial amount, local politicians have sensed blood in the water and are now openly insisting the UK pay out.The row has placed Charles, as head of the Commonwealth and also head of state in a number of the Caribbean realms, in an invidious position, especially as Buckingham Palace had been saying only days earlier that as a constitutional monarch he would follow government advice, which at the time had been strictly no apology and no reparations. Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to the media in St John's, Antigua, this morning Andy Burnham has been in Antigua for the Commonwealth Heads of Government MeetingAnother of the most talked about optics of the trip was 'umbrella-gate', the moment the King was seen angrily gesticulating for a brolly after getting soaked while on parade during an unexpected shower.He was later able to laugh it off, telling the Antiguan prime minister Gaston Browne that he was so wet he could grow watercress on his trousers. But the incident went viral on social media.However all of those who met the King paid tribute to his energy and enthusiasm and praised his lifelong work in areas such as the environment - a particular concern in the Caribbean and Commonwealth where many countries are at serious risk from rising sea levels.Charles, meanwhile, is said to have felt 'invigorated' by the tour and will plunge straight back into a busy programme of engagements in the UK including official Remembrance events.In a tweet from the Royal Family account this afternoon, Charles wrote: ‘As my wife and I depart the Caribbean, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the people of The Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda for the warmth of their welcome and the many kindnesses they have shown us throughout this tour.‘After three nations, four speeches, nine days, over 40 different engagements and countless hands shaken in firm friendship, I return home with so many treasured memories… and one slightly damp suit! Charles R.’