King Charles Soaked in Antigua Rain During Independence Ceremony

King Charles stood on a wet cricket pitch in Antigua and Barbuda as sudden heavy rain and strong winds hit the island. The downpour occurred while the 77-year-old monarch attended a ceremony marking the country’s 45 years of independence. He stood alongside national leaders and military officials when the weather changed abruptly.

Queen Camilla, 79, was quickly handed an umbrella and escorted to a dry area. Charles looked around in apparent confusion as the water poured down. He raised his hands and gestured toward his aides, appearing to ask for an umbrella of his own. The storm lasted only a short time before the skies cleared.

The king chose to continue with the parade rather than retreat indoors. When he returned to the small stage, a large crowd cheered his arrival. Dressed in a beige suit with a colorful tie, he made a light remark about the weather. He told the audience he had started growing watercress on his trousers.

Camilla watched the rest of the event from under the royal canopy near other honored guests. She appeared to gesture toward the unexpected rain while seated in the dry area. The incident took place during a multi-nation tour of the Caribbean that began in the Bahamas on Tuesday.

The royal couple visited Guyana before arriving in Antigua and Barbuda. Charles is scheduled to speak to Commonwealth leaders the next day. His address is expected to address the history of the slave trade and its impact on the region and Britain. Caribbean leaders have recently renewed calls for a formal British apology regarding the trans-Atlantic slave trade.