Heavy skies and a sudden torrential rainstorm disrupted the celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda's independence last Sunday. As the downpour began, King Charles III, dressed in a cream suit, immediately asked, "Where is the rain hat?" Turning to gesture behind him while standing beside Queen Camilla, who wore a white dress, he repeated the question. The Queen was swiftly handed a transparent hat and removed from the podium, leaving the monarch exposed to the elements.
King Charles remained on stage in the rain, running his hand over his head before descending with his arms raised, repeatedly asking, "Where is the umbrella?" A hat was eventually located and delivered to him by Major Ben Rigby, his aide-de-camp. According to The Telegraph, the delay in providing protection occurred because local custom requires everyone to remain motionless during the national anthem. Despite the brief duration of five minutes, the rain left the head of the Commonwealth in a comical situation.
Later, soaked from the few minutes under the water, the monarch joked about the incident, stating, "I started growing watercress in my trousers." This display of good humor provided relief during a day marked by political tension. Hours earlier, the country's Prime Minister had reiterated the need for the United Kingdom to recognize and compensate Caribbean nations for slavery, expressing a desire to remove the King from his role as head of state.
Gaston Browne, who accompanied Charles and Camilla to a religious celebration on Sunday, gave an interview to ITV News in which he identified himself as "a republican." He stated that if asked for his personal opinion, he would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic, though he emphasized his acceptance of the current regime. Browne affirmed that he serves the King and that the monarch will continue to receive all due courtesies and respect.
The Prime Minister also reinforced his stance on financial compensation for slavery. He acknowledged the political context in the UK which might make agreeing to reparations difficult, but argued that this does not negate the necessity of such measures. Browne warned that without compensation, these atrocities are likely to be repeated in the future, noting that similar issues are already visible globally.
These declarations follow remarks by Andy Burnham, who admitted to making a formal apology for the UK's role in the slave trade during the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) taking place this week. However, the British Prime Minister stressed that Britons cannot be forced to pay for the errors of slavery, while adding that the nation must face its complex history.
The topic of slavery has dominated the monarch's visit to the Caribbean since it began last Tuesday, when King Charles III delivered a speech acknowledging "the great suffering" caused by the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. Charles is scheduled to speak at the Commonwealth leaders' conference on November 3.
Sources: Observador.