King Charles’s rain-soaked blunder ‘symbolises unhappy situation’ amid growing slavery reparations row

While Queen Camilla was quickly handed an umbrella and led to covered seating, the King threw his hands in the air, mimed holding an umbrella, and repeatedly asked his entourage: “Where’s the umbrella?”

Local Antiguan protocol required everyone to stand completely still during the national anthem, which caused a delay in getting an umbrella to the King.

Despite being thoroughly soaked, the King did not let the weather stop his duties.

He continued inspecting the troops and later laughed off the incident, telling Prime Minister Gaston Browne: “I think I’m about to grow watercress on my suit.”

It comes as King Charles is set to address Britain’s historical slave trade ties with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” during his keynote address at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday, but he is not expected to issue a direct apology or endorse financial payouts.

Gaston Browne and other regional leaders, including St Lucia’s Prime Minister and Caricom chair Philip J. Pierre, welcomed the willingness to dialogue as an unprecedented first step, but emphasised that an apology without financial or material compensation is insufficient.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has claimed there may be a parallel between the rain-soaked monarch and Caribbean nations demanding reparations from the United Kingdom.

He told GB News: “Napoleon once said: ‘Yes I know he’s a good general but is he lucky?’ The King has had some unlooked-for squalls on this Caribbean tour so far.

“The first was Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s surprise declaration that Britain would be open to a ‘structured dialogue’ on the issue of an apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

“He ruled out reparations but is highly unlikely to be able to control the emotions the issue will raise.

“King Charles is King both of Britain and of several of the Caribbean countries involved in this dispute. He is also Head of the Commonwealth.

“What was undoubtedly a significant change in Britain’s approach when the tour had already started has led to the diplomatic tightrope he will be walking when Chogm starts tomorrow, becoming even more taut.

“There is also the issue of the Royal Family’s involvement in the slave trade in the past, which has received little publicity so far but undoubtedly will as this issue becomes more heated.

“Also, there is no bipartisan approach after Kemi Badenoch’s fierce attack on Andy Burnham’s handling of it.”

Mr Fitzwilliams added: “The thunderstorm symbolised it all perfectly for a watching world.

“Queen Camilla was lucky, the King was stranded, and the preparations had been terrible, far worse than the leaky pens he once got frustrated with.

“It has already gone viral and may well come to symbolise the unhappy situation when, despite current conflicts and economic difficulties, the biannual meeting of one of the world’s most inclusive institutions is overshadowed by recriminations over injustices which, tragic though they were, took place centuries ago.”