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"Watercress on my suit": Charles and Camilla caught in a downpour
The King and Queen were caught in a heavy downpour at the Independence Day parade in Antigua and Barbuda. Camilla got an umbrella straight away, while the King was left waiting. Afterwards they both laughed about it.
On Sunday evening King Charles and Queen Camilla were guests of honour as Antigua and Barbuda marked 45 years of independence with the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade. The parade was held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, where the cricket pitch had been turned into a parade ground.
The King and Queen arrived shortly before half past six in the evening. Soon afterwards the heavens opened.
A downpour during the national anthem
The rain came just as the national anthem began. It is the custom in Antigua and Barbuda to stand completely still while it is played, and the troops and others taking part in the parade did not move as the rain poured down.
Queen Camilla was handed a clear umbrella by her protection officer and walked to the covered seating.
The King was left standing on the open platform, and his suit was quickly soaked. "Where's the umbrella?" he asked several times, gesturing that he needed something over his head.
Eventually his equerry, Major Ben Rigby, arrived with a black umbrella. Under it the King inspected the guard of honour with the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Telbert Benjamin. After about five minutes the rain eased.
"I've given up"
The King and Queen took it all in good humour. The King joked with Prime Minister Gaston Browne about how wet he had become. "I think I'm about to grow watercress on my suit!" he said, according to the Royal Family.
The Queen laughed about her wet hair. "I've given up," she told a member of the media.
National honourees and cricket legends
This year's national honourees were also celebrated during the parade. They are people recognised for their service in public life, culture, sport, education and the community.
After the closing ceremony the King and Queen met four of the great West Indies cricketers: Sir Viv Richards, after whom the stadium is named, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Curtly Ambrose.
It is not the first time the King has been caught by the rain on a big day. His coronation in London in May 2023 was also marked by rain. On Tuesday he will open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John's.